INDIAN FRANCHISE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 304, 22 November 1932, Page 7

INDIAN FRANCHISE

THIRD CONFERENCE BEGINS. METHODS OF VOTING, INCLUSION OF DEPRESSED CLASSES. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 22, 12.20 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 21. The detailed work of the third Indian Round Table Conference began undor the chairmanship of Lord Sankey when, in accordance with the provisional agenda, tho conference took up consideration of the report of the Indian Franchise Oommitee dealing with provincial legislatures. Lord Lothian’s Committee reported that adult suffrage was an impracticable method of election at the present time.

They equally rejected, after an examination, modifications of tho adult suffrage including systems of indirect election and also a franchise based on a combination of direct and indirect election.

They recommended instead tho extension of tho franchiso by a direct vote.

The geenral opinion of the conference on tins Was that the recommendation of the Franchiso Committee be accepted and there appeared to be general agreement that the essential basis of the franchiso should be the property qualifications proposed by the Franchiso Cominittoe.

Regarding the principle of educational qualifications in addition to property, tho debate showed that many members would, welcome it and certain members felt very strongly that it ought to be adopted, but it was recognised that practical difficulties required further detailed exploration. It was agreed that since the general qualifications proposed by the Lothian Committee will enfranchise only a relatively sma.ll percentage of the depressed classes, special provision must lie made to secure the presence on the electoral roll of a larger percentage of tho depressed classes; also the percentage of depressed class voters to be aimed, at should be 10 per cent, of the depressed classes population in each province.