INDIAN AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3618, 17 July 1923, Page 20

INDIAN AFFAIRS

RESTRICTIVE MOTION CARRIED. DELHI, July 11. The Legislative Assembly was packed with both members and the public for the debate on the question of the Viceroy’s powers of certification. The motion was : —-

That in view of the misuse of certification for doubling the salt tax, the Government of India Act be so amended as to restrict this exceptional power to measures which are considered to be essential for the safety and tranquillity of British India, and to delete the provision permitting its use as well in the interests of British India. Both sides were strongly represented. The opponents of the motion took the view that the Viceroy and the Government were solely responsible to the British Government, and that for the discharge of this duty special powers had been provided. Some members deprecated an indirect attempt to force prematurely a momentous constitutional advance. The motion was carried by 38 votes to 36. LOCAL LOAN SUBSCRIBED. DELHI, July 9. Subscriptions for 24 crores of rupees for a 5 per cent. Government local loan opened on July 4, and closed to-day, the loan being fully subscribed. A crore is 10,000,000. QUESTION OF RELEASING PRISONERS. DELHI, July 12. In the Assembly, a motion for the release of Mr Gandhi, the Ali brothers, and other political prisoners was heavily defeated. The opponents of the motion argued that widespread disorder’ would follow the release. Lord Rawlinson (Comnmnder-in-Chief of the Army) announced ihat the Government had accepted Lord Inchcape’s suggestions for the army reductions, entailing a reduction of 130 men in each of 45 British battalions; the withdrawal of two British cavalry regiments and one cavalry brigade; the headquarters and one battery of horse artillery and an ammunition column ; and also a reduction of 64 men in each Indian Army infantry and pioneer battalion.