PROBLEMS OF INDIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18193, 14 September 1933, Page 5

PROBLEMS OF INDIA

BRITAIN’S POSITION “IMPOSSIBLE TO WITHDRAW” •‘lt would be impossible for Britain to withdraw from India,” said Sir Joseph Smith in a luncheon address to members of the Auckland Grammar School Old Boys’ Association. Sir Joseph quoted an authority who said: "An abrupt departure from India Ijv the British, which 1 wish to God were possible, would cause very great suffering. though Britain would be the ■miner in everything hut self-respect. ° A review of affairs in India since the beginning of the 19th century was given by° Sir Joseph. After the annexation of the Punjab, he said, most of the ■north of India came under British rule. In 1920 considerable reforms yvere made, but further progress was hindered by the policy of “non-violent non-co-opera-tion" adopted by the natives. Since then various efforts had been made to reach a satisfactory position. In spite of much uninformed criticism, which had been levelled against the administration. Britain had fulfilled her obligations in India, Sir Joseph said. Education and better communication had developed India into a politically active unit of the Empire. India's first university. (fiat at Calcutta, was 12 years older than New Zealand’s first university college. “Britain and the Government of India are not going to turn hack,” Sir Joseph added. "Wo have got to make the best of things ami help put India, on nor feet. India is not a side-show; she is a very important problem.”