THE LAND OF SNOBS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 13

THE LAND OF SNOBS.

INDIA THE PARADISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, “I til ink one of the great stumbling blocljS to better social understanding amongst Europeans in India is the spirit of ‘snobbishness’ so strong in the present generation,” said Colonel J. D. Crawford, secretary of the European Association, at a Rotary CUib meeting at Calcutta in April (reports the Englishman). India, continued the colonel, bad been called the paradise of the middle class, the land of snobs. It had been suggested to him that the beginning of the social difficulties amongst Europeans in India coiiid be traced to the old East India Company, whose jealousy against commercial competition from outside sources gave rise to the bitterness of feeling between the officials of the company and outside merchants, a tradition which unfortunately appeared to luive continued until the close of the last century as between Government officials and business men. He did not think that Government officials were blameless in this respect. The apparent importance of their positions bred in them a spirit of intolerance towards other walks of life. Blame, however, could also be attached to others who, being snobs within the true definition ’of thg word, had toadied to the temporary position of these, “tin hats.” The situation to-day was different, and he felt that if any snobbishness did exist, it would he eliminated in tho course cf time. A large factor in tho problem of European social life. Colonel Crawford said, was the club life, which hired cliouishness and accentuated social differences. He was amongst those who considered that {he absence of home life in India and tho exploitation of clubs are to some extent responsible ion the Europeans’ loss of touch with the people of India.