INDIAN COMMISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 11

INDIAN COMMISSION.

RETURN TO LONDON.

AGITATORS AT VICTORIA.

IMPORTANT WORK AHEAD.

Australian mid N.Z. Press Association. (Received April 28, 5.15 p.m.) LONDON. April 27

Sir John Simon and tlie other members of the Indian Commission arrived in London to-day. Most, elaborate precautions were taken at Victoria station.

Two hundred policemen guarded flic approaches to the platform at which their train drew up, and hundreds of men on foot patrolled tho streets outside.

A crowd of agitators attempted to demonstrate. 'I hoy scattered pamphlets and carried black (lags, some of which bore tho inscription: "To h— with Simon. Freedom for India." Four arrests xvcro made.

A British official wireless message says (hat in the course of an interview Sir John said tho commissioners hoped to welconio in London on Juno 8 their colleagues of tho Indian Central Committee who were coining to resunio their conferences with them, more particularly on questions connected with the relations between (ho Indian and British Government. The Indian committee intended to write its report in England and to complclo ifc by October. Tho commission's report was not. likely to be ready before the cud of the year.

In view of the pending general election in England Sir John said be and bis colleagues most earnestly trusted that India would be kept entirely outside all party controversy. They had worked together in that spirit and would do everything possible fo preserve it to the end.

Much would bo heard of Indian affairs in the next Parliament, but the commissioners trusted nothing would be heard of tliein in the course of ils own domestic discussions in the next six weeks.

The return of the commission brings to a conclusion that stage of the duties laid upon it 18 months ago. Two stages remain, on the work of which 1 lie coinmission will begin after the election. The interval is necessitated by the fact that live members of the commission will be seeking re-election to Parliament. The fourth and final penultimate stage of the work of the commission should be begun soon after the middle of June, when the Indian Central Committee arrives in London for a joint conference. The Simon Commission, in considering the future relations of the British and Indian Governments, will hear evidence of permanent officials 011 the subject.

The Ministries concerned with the defence services may also be consulted. The joint conference may also desire to hear tlio views of experienced authorities such as Viscount Chelmsford and the Marquess of Reading, former Viceroys of India.

The fifth and final stage of the work of tho commission will be the preparation of its report. That will be undertaken when it has before it the report of the Indian Committee. STRIKE IN BOMBAY.

COTTON MILL WORKERS.

COMMUNIST UNION OBEYED

Australian anil N.Z. Press Association. (Received April 28, 5.45 p.m.) DELHI, April 27. Sixty thousand workers at the Bombay cotton mills struck to-day in response to the call of the Communist Union. Fifty mills are now idle.