NEW RULE IN INDIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 5

NEW RULE IN INDIA

ADVICE TO PRINCES ISOLATION IMPOSSIBLE DELHI, April 15. At a valedictory banquet by'37 of the ruling Princes, the departing Viceroy, Earl Willingdon, expressed the opinion that it would be nothing short of disaster, not only for India, but for the Princely order particularly, if the Princes rejected the offer of partnership in the new constitution. An attitude of complete isolation nowadays was impossible. "Even if you stand aloof from the Federation," he said, "you cannot hope to remain unaffected by events in British India. Surely it is better to take part in directing the fortunes of the country than to deny yourselves the opportunity that will soon be accorded you. . . .- r ~: "If the Princes are to wield;their due influence they must as far as possible end dissensions among themselves, which have done much harm to the Order of the Princes."

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS

PROBLEMS OF VOTING BALLOT NOT SECRET LONDON, March 3. The report of the Delimitation Committee set up under the Government of India Act, 1935, to investigate questions necessary to complete the machinery for the new provincial legislatures was issued last night. The recommendations will provide a basis for the draft orders under the Act, which, it is expected, will shortly lie presented to Parliament for approval. Among other questions the committee dealt with the delimitation of territorial constituencies and the character of special constituencies for women. Dealing with polling methods, the report states that since probably 90 per cent' of the enlarged electorate will be illiterate, existing, precautions, based on the mistrust of the polling officer, effectually remove any pretence at secrecy of the ballot. "Shocking as this may appear to an English elector," it is stated, "we can discern no remedy pending the education of the electorate." TOKEN AND COLOUR VOTING

Referring to the token system—where such things as a tree, an umbrella, or a bicycle are printed on the ballot paper—the committee suggest that substantial tokens 'be made of wood and screwed on to the ballotboxes, so as to be more easily recoguised by the illiterate voter. Turning to the colour-box system, the report says that the trouble is that all voters do not drop in their ballot papers. Some are disposed to retain them with a view to sale later on.

The many problems in connection with elections in India, states the repo'rt, might provoke the criticism that in that country an election cannot be "free and undefiled."

"To this we would reply that India has enjoyed a system of Parliamentary election for only 15 years. "Wholesale bribery or debauchery of the electorate to the extent to which, before the passing of the Ballot. Act. in 1872, such practices prevailed in England, is unknown in India. There has been no resort to violence or riots, despite communal tension."