INDIA’S NEW ERA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26541, 16 August 1947, Page 8

INDIA’S NEW ERA

Message of Goodwill From Dominion TRIBUTE TO STATESMANSHIP Parliamentary Reporter. WELLINGTON, Aug. 15. Greetings were extended to the people of the new dominions of India and Pakistan in a resolution unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives to-day following a discussion on the Roygl Titles Bill which provides for the omission of the words “Indiae Imperator ” and “ Emperor of India ” from Jthe Royal title.

After other members had spoken and the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser had replied to the debate, the Bill was put through all stages and passed. The following resolution, moved by Mr Fraser and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, was then adopted unanimously. “ That members of this House of Representatives # in Parliament assembled extend on the occasion of the proclamation of independence of India and Pakistan, a message of sincere goodwill and congratulations to the two new dominions and express the fervent hope that their association with their fellow members of the British Commonwealth of Nations will be both beneficial and lasting for the people of India and Pakistan, for all other peoples of the British Commonwealth and for the welfare and advancement of all the peoples of the world.’’

Mr Fraser said that the reason for the Parliaments of the dominions passing Bills of the description of that before the House was contained in the preamble to the Statute of Westminster, and although New Zealand had not yet adopted the statute in its entirety it had adopted the preamble. It was the most fitting day to discuss the Bill, because in India and Pakistan that day the Indian people were inaugurating two new dominions. The decision of the Indian people was a matter for congratulation, he said, and he hoped that the decision to become dominions of the Britjsh Commonwealth, independent and interdependent, would be final and permanent. The entry of the two new dominions would be welcomed particularly when the decision of the Indian people followed a period which seemed fraught and heavy laddn with the possibility of disaster. Mr Fraser paid tribute to all the statesmen who had conducted negotiations over many years, and made particular reference to Lord Mountbatten for his great Services to the British Commonwealth and the world in general and for the way he had resolved many of the Indian peoples’ difficulties. He hoped the new nations would be very happy, fortunate and successful. Messages? to New Governors New Zealand had been invited to send a representative to India on the occasion of the inauguration of the new dominions, but that was not possible, and he had sent the following message to Mr Nehru and Mr Jinnah. the Prime Minister of India and Pakistan respectively:— “I desire, on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, to extend a message of greetings and congratulations to the people of your country on the momentous and inspiring day of their formal entry upon the status of independent nationhood. ■ We in New Zealand rejoice that IndiaPakistan has, like ourselves, achieved its independence within the framework of the British Commonwealth of Nations. From our own experience we know that independence is enhanced when exercised in co-operation with other nations who have complete trust in each other’s intentions and who recognise the equality of all the partners. As fellow members of that free association, we look forward to a steadily increasing measure of co-operation with you and your Government.” Adventure and Experiment Mr Holland said the Bill before the House was of greater significance than might appear because through it. they were enacting their part m a great adventure and experiment, which was of moment to the whole world. The changes now occurring were probably not the last that would be heard of alterations to the Constitution of India. He did not subscribe to the theory that the division of India

Into dominions was a nail, or even a tack, in the coffin of the British Commonwealth. On the contrary, it was a great step forward in selfgovernment of nations within the British Commonwealth. Tribute must be paid to British statesmanship, which had now achieved the objective of an independent India, said Mr Holland. Although some had . very natural doubts and misgivings, he thought they couldfortify their belief in the success of this great step with the recollection of what happened in South Africa. The Attorney-general, Mr Mason, said that the feeling which arose in India was less political than social. It was not a question of administration, which was undoubtedly good, but the trouble arose from a feeling of inferiority induced by occupancy of posts by nationals of another country. When the restlessness which this produced was gone, there would be a new era, though it would not be without troubles. Far from dismembering the British Empire, he felt a great, source of strength would be added. Effect on Political Economy It was a day in which there must be a certain amount of sadness in their hearts as they thought of men such as Clive and others who had achieved so much in and for India, said Mr F. W. Doidge (Oppn., Tauranga). The decision whether the new dominions would remain in the Empire was one for themselves. The creation of Pakistan made it difficult to avoid shattering the whole political economy of India. There was a division of railways, of arterial roads, the army and so on, with Pakistan the granary of the country and India the industrial section. There were problems that would affect New Zealand, but would affect South Africa and Australia more. If the new dominions remained in the Empire they would have equal rights and might wish to send out masses of people who could swamp other dominions. Mr P. G. Connolly (Govt.,. Dunedin Central) said the Indian war effort had brought victory much nearer. Lord Wavell in October, 1945, in his capacity as Viceroy, had referred to the steadfastness and courage of the Indian troops and to the fine effort of the factory and field workers on the home front. The Indian armed forces had risen greatly from 1939 to 1945. Thirtyone Indians had won the V.C., and of 27 V.C.’s awarded in Burma, 20 went to members of the Indian Army. In the early part of the North African campaign, India had the sole responsibility of the supply of pipe lines, rolling stocks, and locomotives, and when the supply position was acute, 1200 miles of Indian railway tracks were taken up and sent to North Africa.

The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, said that in the working together of the Hindu and Moslem races with the British section of the white race, there was more possibility of worth-while achievement than in anything else previously tried. The question in India and Pakistan was whether past distrusts would disappear and whether India, would trust the British Commonwealth to the full and vice versa. Mr C. G. E. Harker (Oppn., Hawke’s Bay) said it was the appropriate time for a tribute to the Indian Civil Service to which New Zealand had contributed a great man, the late Sir William Marris. The Indian service had been a tradition in many English families whose members for generations had left their homeland and its amenities and ties to take up the white man's burden in the East.