REFORMS FOR INDIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 12

REFORMS FOR INDIA

One of the last hurdles in the way of the official policy for increasing the measure of self-government in India has been surmounted. The recommendations of the Joint Committee" have been approved by the House of Commons as a basis for legislation. Considering the fears that had been expressed of disruption in the Conservative Party over this issue, the number of dissentients from that quarter was small. When it came to the point of accepting or rejecting proposals that are the fruit of years spent in negotiation, investigation and discussion, only 75 Conservatives cast an adverse Vote. It cannot be said that hasty or ill-considered action is being taken when the legislation appears. The famous Statutory Commission was appointed in terms of legislation passed in 1927. During 1928 and 1929 it went about its duties, paying two visits to India. In 1930 its report appeared. In the four years which have intervened a tremendous amount of discussion has proceeded, there having i been numerous round table conferences at which Indian spokesmen have debated, with representatives of the British Government, difficulties in the way of, and objections to, what has been proposed. As one classic instance, the question of communal representation, raised because of religious differences and the fears of minorities that they might be submerge'd in a universal vote, has proved an exceedingly stubborn problem. It has happened, of course, that there has been considerable departure from what the Report of the Statutory Commission proposed. That document was never meant to be conclusive. The commission had not the power to bind either the Government or the Indian people. Its proposals were intended as a basis for the discussion which followed. Sir John Simon, whose name will always be associated with the monumental work of the commission, stated definitely in the debate that all its surviving members accepted the advances made from the point where it concluded. That is as sound an endorsement as the report of the Joint Committee could have. The point has now been reached where action is imminent. The near future will see happenings of tremendous importance in the history of India and the Empire.