BENGAL BOMB OUTRAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20678, 25 September 1930, Page 11

BENGAL BOMB OUTRAGE.

POLICE AS VICTIMS.

TWO OFFICIALS INJURED.

ONE IN SERIOUS CONDITION-. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received Soptember 24, 10.5 p.m.) * DELHI, Sept. 24. The fifth bomb outrage in Bengal was perpetrated yesterday. On this occasion a bomb was thrown at the Khulna police station. The head constable and the sub-inspector were wounded, the former seriously.

SITUATION IN INDIA. OUTLOOK SOMEWHAT BETTER. POWER OF CONGRESS WANING. British Wireless. RUGBY. Sept. 23. The Government of India's review of the situation in that country up to September 20 is as follows: There is little to report from the Northwest Frontier Province and so far as specific incidents are concerned the week in internal India has been comparatively quiet. A recent report received from the Government of Bombay relating to tho efforts made by the Indian National Congress during the latter half of last month to capture labour in the city of Bombay shows that these met with very moderate success and "there are diverse influences at work likely to prevent anything in the nature of a serious labour movement in favour of Congress. The number of unemployed millhands continues to increase, although perhaps not so rapidly as was apprehended. Elsewhere the labour situation generally is satisfactory. In spite of the various devices adopted by Congress, it may now be assumed that apart from the absence of Congress representation the constitution of the various legislative bodies will be little affected.

Bad Effect on Finances. The civil disobedience movement has conspicuously failed to impair the working of the Legislative Councils or the administration by the Minister of Transferred Departments, except in so far as it has weakened the financial resources of the Provincial Governments, both by the reduction of revenue and the increase of expenditure, the unfortunate consequences of which have been seriously to curtail the beneficent activities of the local Governments, to the grave injury of the public. The prospects that public opinion will play an effective part in the disruption of the civil disobedience movement are now better than at any time since the movement was begun. There are unmistakable signs that popular resentment is increasing in various directions. The intransigent attitude of the Congress leaders during the peace conversations and their disregard for the sufferings of others have strengthened the position of the Government supporters and have shaken the confidence of many Congress .followers. The attempted boycott of .educational institutions has created a reaction among parents and students. The boycott of foreign goods and the widespread loss it has caused to Indians are gradually but surely alienating from Congress the sympathy of an important section of the Hindu middle classes, on whose support the Congress programme largely depends.

Position on Frontier Better. The latest reports from the North-west Frontier Province record a general improvement in the situation, due largely to the fact that the people are now convinced by the facts that the stories of the collapse of British power are mythical. At the same time the influence is increasing of the supporters of law and order. Broadly speaking, the public are now in no doubt as to the ultimate issue and the psychological advantage which this gives to the Government is a factor of great and growing importance. One natural effect is to direct greater attention toward constitutional methods, which it has been the consistent policy of the Government to encourage all parties and communities to adopt..

It is not, however, to ba assumed that the Congress has exhausted its capacity for mischief. There are already signs of a recrudescence of the salt campaign and efforts will doubtless be made to stir up rural areas where conditions are favourable to the non-payment of Government dues and sporadic trouble may occur in consequence. Endeavours will • also be made to maintain, and even to tighten, the boycott of foreign goods. On the whole, while there is good reason to take a sanguine view of the future, there is no justification for any relaxation of effort.