THE FUTURE OF INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20761, 2 January 1931, Page 9

THE FUTURE OF INDIA.

PARTY DELEGATES MEET.

POLICY OF GOVERNMENT. EXTENT OF LOCAL RULE. THE PROBLEM OF FINANCE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 31. A momentous meeting of the Conservative, Liberal and Labour Party delegates to the India Round Table Conference was held in Downing Street last evening. It was a sequel to the week-end conference at Chequers, where there were present the Prime Minister, Mr. MucDonald, the Secretary for India, Mr. Wedgwood Benn, officials from the India Office and experts from the conference, and ht which it is believed important decisions were reached, which will form the broad lines of the Government's policy. Mr. Mac Donald outlined the views formed by the Government, after consultation with the expert advisers. The special correspondent of the Daily Herald says the principle of responsible self-government is already virtually agreed upon, but it is not stated by whom. It is understood that the Indian delevgates are prepared to accept a limited period of reservation to Vice-Regal control of defence, foreign relations and tho maintenance of Aden and the Persian Gulf Protectorates. A more difficult question is the measure of financial control, for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of British officials and former officials and British creditors of the Government of India. FRANCHISE IN INDIA. VIEW OF THE COMMITTEE. THE MINORITIES QUESTION. (Received January 1, 10,15 p.m.) British Wireless. RYGBY, Dec. 31. Many aspects of the franchise question have been discussed by tho Franchise Sub-Commitieo of tho India Round Table Conference. During the discussion the view found general favour that the Franchise Commission might consider the introduction of an international qualification of a satisfactory standard, provided this could bo done without conflicting with the recommendation that the extension of the franchise should be distributed as far as possible equally among the different communities. It was also agreed that the commission might be asked to consider whether the military service qualification should not be extended to include service in the military and territorial forces in India.

The question of women's franchise was also discussed and the women delegates asked that the recommendations on this subject be made statutory, also that the commission report should bo given effect to, except that they desired that t\ie qualifying ago be 21 years instead of 25 years.

The sub-committee generally expressed dissatisfaction, pointing out that the number of women voters was small compared with tho number of male voters, and thought that tho Franchise Commission should examine methods by which the numbers might be made to approximate closely, and in so doing should take into account, together with any other evidence, tho proposals os the Statutory Commission. It also thought that tho commission might examine the disparity which it suggested existed in certain provinces between urban and rural enfranchisement.

With regard to the extension of tho franchise, it was considered that the matter was one in which the provincial legislatures might exercise discretion ns to what extension should take place after a period of years.

A meeting of the North-West Frontier Province Sub-Committee heard a statement by Sir Denys Bray, of the Indian Council, based upon his personal and administrative experience of the frontier province.

With a view to focussing discussion the chairman undertook to prepare a report. The Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, today presided over a meeting of the Minorities Sub-Committee, at which views were expressed on behalf of several of the smaller minority communities, including tho Indian Christians, with special reference to the Roman Catholic section, the Parsee, Anglo-Indian and European business community. The commitee then began consideration of the attitude of large minorities, which will bo continued tomorrow. The Federal Structure Sub-Committee, under Lord Sankey, this afternoon discussed tho desirability of reserving special seats in the legislature for representatives of certain classes, with special interests. This was followed by a general discussion as to tho methods by which representatives of tho federal legislature should bo chosen. In some quarters it was advocated that members of the Upper House of the Legislature should be chosen by the provincial legislature, and those of tho Lower House by direct election. In another quarter the view was expressed that direct election to both Houses should apply, notwithstanding difficulties in tho way of carrying out the election. Another view was that a definite opinion on this point should bo postponed until tho powers and functions of tho two Houses, and the relations of the legislature to the executive, were decided. One of the British delegates suggested that tho Upper House should be a chamber representative of the Governments of the federal units, and the Lower House should bo representative of the provincial legislatures. The discussion will be continued on Friday.