The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1951. THE UNREST IN INDIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18141, 12 January 1921, Page 4

The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 12, 1951. THE UNREST IN INDIA.

During the past few days the situation in India has become more complicated and the rioting at times assumed menacing aspects. The proceedings at the 'recent Indian National Congress have simply added fuel to the smouldering fires of discorltent. The definite first steps have now been taken towards the establishment of responsible government as provided for in the Indian Reform Act. The governors and: other officials have been installed, but the effects of the ceremonials have unfortunately been to some extent neutralised by the riots. It is not anticipated that a formidable uprising against British rule will be successfully fomented, that is the ostensible object of a section of the agitators. The agrarian riots emphasise the mischievous effects of Mr Gandhi’s Non-co-operation movement. As we pointed out a few days ago Mr Gandhi’s philosophy is distinctly pacific, but in his time he has started more than one conflagration which he could not control. He preaches an idealistic gospel of non-resistance and Non-co-operation, condemns force in unmeasured terms, and is, himself, the match which lights the powder. Paradoxical as it may appear this egregious mystic who abhors force is the begetter of much of the rioting and subsequent bloodshed. Mr Gandhi is an educated man, as indeed are the majority of the Indian agitators, but apparently he has so far failed to realise the dangerous influence of his revolutionary speech. The Government of India has always been a problem, and it will doubtless be surrounded with difficulties in the future. But with all the mistakes which nave been made—and no nation has yet assumed responsibility in a distant clime without committing serious errors—the government of India by Britain will stand the strongest analytical test. Only the ( wilfully ignorant will pretend that India can immediately govern herself. Miss Alice Henderson, who has spent twenty-five years in mission work in Southern and Northern India, made this point very clear in a recent interview on her arrival in the dominion on furlough. Miss Henderson says:—

No one. who thinks sanely imagines that India is 'in a position to govern herself. The Indians are not a nation, and cannot hang together for anything. A municipal council cannot hang together long enough to make a road. They have not that in them which makes them able to pull together. There is not in India any such thing as the common good. It is the Hindu for the Hindu, the Brahmin, for the Brahmin, the nonBrahmin for the non-Brahmin and so on. They see it themselves, for they are trying to bring about some sort of brotherhood between themselves and the Mohammedans. While the place ib like that, how can one think it would bo possible to select a body of men who would run the country for the people’s good? Any reform movement that has been a success has been carried out by Indians (non-Chnstians, of course) who have been educated by missionaries. You do not find a Hindu or a Mohammedan coming out of a Hindu or Mohammedan college who has any of the ideas of a Hindu or Mohammedan that comes out of a Christian college. He never breaks away. The Hindu is essentially a self-seeker —his own rights and his own family rights count. He has no idea for the welfare of the people of his village that he has enough humanity to distribute food in times of famine. If that js so, where will they get those aims and ideals that will govern the country? These men who are agitating have. all been to England, Germany, or America, and have come back filled with Western ideas.”

In the light of this opinion the student can visualise the problem which Britain has set herself to solve. Firstly, she has offered to India a large instalment of self-government, hoping that its educational effects will be widespread and beneficial. Then she proposes to send some of her most trusted men to aid India during the transformation. If she succeeds in stimulating the ideal of self-government Britain will have given one more gift of priceless value to the world. Mr Gandhi and those who think with him desire immediate and complete self-government, forgetful that the mere handful of Westernised Indians would be incapable of assuming the gigantic task. And not all of them are dependable men, —even Mr Gandhi himself is far .too much of a dreamer to be of any value in the practical work of government. There is room for the suspicion that he may be seeking mere notoriety rather than service. The use he has made of the Khalifat movement which arose out of the peace treaty with Turkey was not creditable to a man of

his educational attainments. Britain has a powerful asset for ultimate good in the loyalty of the Rajahs and native princes. That loyalty is also a proof of the beneficence of British rule, and it is inconceivable that the native rulers who love their subjects would take sides with an oppressor. The truth is that India has more than her quota of mis-chief-making propagandists, and if Britain succeeds in face of all the obstacles she will have furnished one more example of that far-seeing statesmanship which will be rewarded in an intreased measure of loyalty in the Indian people and almost universal recognition from the outside world.

A TIMELY ADMONITION. Mr Massey has shown himself keenly alive to the financial possibilities of the future and his memorandum to the public departments to exercise economy will meet with general approval. Strictly speaking it should never be necessary to counsel economy in dealing with public money, but some men are unduly lavish with other people’s money and not particularly careful in the care of their own. The recent experience through which a large part of the world has passed has not been conducive to the practice and teaching of economy and the Prime Minister has very wisely insisted on a larger measure of care in public expenditure. The increasing cost of departments would in itself constitute a need for warning, but this, combined with the present financial stringency, makes it imperative that a more watchful guard should be kept on all expenditure. It is generally believed that there is room for economy in some departments, and public servants will find it in their own interests to conserve public money. By so doing they will help the Government to administer public affairs along the lines of reasonable economy and make the necessity less apparent for vigorous pruning. It is not necessary to lower efficiency in order to practise such economy as will make itself evident in a substantial reduction in departmental expenditure. Salaries and other costs have increased of late years and swell the totals, but when full allowance has been made for such items there still remains a margin of unnecessary expenditure) which can be reduced. Mr Parr has joined his chief in emphasising the necessity for national economy, f and if the Government will view the situation and act as prudent business men are acting there will very soon be less need for public criticism of public expenditure. Essential and reproductive work should receive first consideration, but the time has certainly arrived for the curtailr ment of luxurious spending. The Government is expecting considerable contributions by way of loans and taxation from the community, and those contributions will be more readily made if care in public spending can be guaranteed.