SITUATION IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20760, 31 December 1930, Page 11

SITUATION IN INDIA.

RENEWED DISAFFECTION.

VIOLENT PRESS CAMPAIGN.

NON-PAYMENT OF TAXES

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

DELHI, Doo. 29. The Government of India's weekly review of the situation in India says that reports received from the Provincial Governments for the first half of December show that in most provinces there have been attempts to intensify tho various activities of tho civil disobedience movement.

Bengal reports record revived activity in Calcutta, including picketing, and also in tho Hoogly district, but in other districts thero has been no change of importance.

In tho United Provinces there have been several cases of violence, but otherwise the situation has shown little change. In tho Punjab there has been no particular change, and in tho Sikh district tho attempts to revive agitation and picketing are not serious in extent.

Revived activity has been particularly marked in Bihar and Orissa, whore in several districts there has been a general increase of interest in tho civil disobedience movement, which has taken tho form of picketing and the circulation of falsp rumours calculated to increase excitement and unrest and tho encouragement of the non-payment of taxes. There were several instances of violent resistance to the police. Tho situation in Madras continues to be very satisfactory, and in the Central Provinces and Assam attempts to revive enthusiasm met with little success.

On December 23 tho Governor-General, Lord Irwin, promulgated two ordinances providing for the better control of the press and the prevention of instigation to lawlessness. Tho reasons necessitating this action were given by the GovernorGeneral in a statement on the promulgation of tho ordinances, but ifc may be mentioned that deterioration in the tone of tho press has been very rapid and there has been very definite intensification of the no-lax campaign, especially in tho United Provinces.

Bombay City has been comparatively quiet during the week ended last Saturday. Reports from the Gujerat show that there is still a considerable migration from British territory to that of the adjacent Indian States, which is partly due to organised intimidations. The recent attempt at Lahore to assassinate tho Governor of the Punjab has caused great resentment among all classos in the district, and meetings in Lahore have expressed condemnation of the terrorist movement.

CONFERENCE AT WORK.

DISCUSSION ON FRONTIER.

MEETING OF MINISTERS,

LONDON, Dec. 29. The India Round Table Conference today resumed work after tho Christmas recess, when tho Northern Frontier Province. Sub-Committee met, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arthur Henderson.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, in a speech to-day expressed the hope that the task of the conference would be completed before the end of January, and if possible before Parliament reassembled on January 20.

The Prime Minister was in consultation on Saturday and again yesterday with Captain Wedgwood Benn, Secretary of State for India, Mr. H. B. Lees-Smith, Postmaster-General, and officials and advisers of the India Office. The work already done was reviewed, and much consideration was given to the further means to be taken to assist the conference.