INDIAN REFORMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 13

INDIAN REFORMS

COMMONS' DEBATE

PROPOSALS ENDORSED ACCEPTANCE OF REPORT OVERWHELMING MAJORITY LABOUR MOTION LOST By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received December 13, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 12 The debate, in the House of Commons on India concluded to-day. The Government's resolution proposed the acceptance of the Joint Select Committee's recommendations as a basis for revision of the Indian Constitution, and the introduction of a bill on the general lines of that report. A Labour amendment was moved to the effect that provision should be made for the recognition of the right of India to Dominion status and for its attainment by progressive development and expansion of responsible government, and for placing in the hands of the Indian masses the possibility of obtaining political power by constitutional means. Goodwill as Safeguard Mr. F. S. Cocks (Labour —Broxtowe), who moved the amendment, urged the House to remember? that the goodwill of the Indian peoples was the strongest safeguard. He said the Labour Party wished to sweep away all second chambers in India in a lower chamber. Ten per cent of the seats should be allotted to Labour, so that they could work for the elimination of social evils. There should be adult suffrage in the towns and more effective franchise of Indian women. The Government should insert in the preamble to the hill a declaration it regarded Dominion status for India as the goal, and that it should be attained within a measurable period of years.

The Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, said that neither the amendment nor the Labour ' members' minority report proposed to establish here and now complete self-government in India. There was, therefore, recognition from the official Opposition that it was inevitable that they should proceed by stages. The worst of all errors in providing for the future constitution of the Government was to imagine that the rate of advance depended upon time-table. Only Satisfactory Conclusion Sir John pointed out that both the Statutory Commission and the Joint Select Committee considered that the only really satisfactory conclusion of the Indian constitutional problem was a federation which Embraced all India, both the States and British India. Since the report of the Statutory Commission a new prospect had arisen as a result of a number of declarations which had brought the possibility of an All-India Federation, considerably nearer. The question to be decided was whether, in the light of this new prospect of the Indian States coming now within an All-India Federation, it was wise and politic to provide such an opportunity in their new legislation under conditions which would secure the Princes' adhesion, or whether they should decline to take such a step as too big a risk. That was the issue on which the House must vote. Advance in Foutf.Years "Every single surviving member who served on the»Statutory Commission four years ago," said Sir John, "is to-day of opinion instead of standing stiffly by the proposals contained in those two volumes we should at any rate advance as far as the point the Select Committee proposed." He added that if tho Indian States did come in they would help to establish a federation of Greater India upon the only possible basis.

Mr. "Winston Churchill contended that the whole project from the Round Table Conference onward was of Socialist paternity. Now the Socialist Opposition wanted still more than the Government offered. It therefore could not be contended that the scheme represented the British people. The only wise course would be to try provincial autonomy first before attempting autonomy for the central government. Mr. Stanley Baldwin, winding up the debate, said it was a tribute to British rule that Indians now desired a greater share in government. He was in no wise perturbed at the first Indian reactions to the present scheme, which had been denounced by the Congress and some other parties within the last few days. He had received assurances both from the Government of India and Provincial Governments that the proposals would be workable and expressing the opinion that the people would in the years to come be able "and willing to work them. Ideal of Democracy

it was said that democracy was on its last Idgs in Europe, yet we were trying to impose it on India. He did not believe that anyone in the House, after Consideration, would desire a different Constitution in Britain. "We have taught India to respect and revere the democratic system for years," added Mr. Baldwin, " and we cannot turn back now.'' (Cheers.) There was growing in India a public conscience and much progress had been made regarding the condition of women. Scope for women in political and social work /in India staggered the imagination. He commended the Government's resolution and expi-essed his full conviction that it was right to go forward with courage to make the best instrument devisable for the well-being of India.

The Labour amendment was defeated by 491 votes to 49. The Government's resolution was carried by 410 votes to 127.

The minority of 127 included 75 Conservatives.