INDIA

Southland Times, Issue 18970, 18 June 1923, Page 6

INDIA

COLLAPSE OF NON-CO-OPERATION MOVEMENT. A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cabl.Y LONDON, June 14. Earl Winterton (Under-Secretary for Indial, replying to the Labour protest against the Indian Viceroy’s use of his emergency power to pats the new double salt tax after the Indian Legislative Assembly had rejected it, said that Lord Reading’s action was justified under the Government of India Act. India had not full responsible government, though they all hoped she would eventually win a place among the self-governing dominions. Quoting the chief figures of the Indian Budget, he contended that the Government of India had taken the only course open to it. It was grotesque to describe Lord Reading’s action as an abuse of authority. Lord Reading’s action had the full assent of the British Government. Taking the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly, the voting favoured the salt tax, which involved an extri expenditure of only one rupee per far : ly per year. Lord Reading had reportf lat there had never bepi a time when, i. view of the increased wages and general prosperity of the people, the impost would be more lightly felt, and the balancing of the Budget had improved India's financial position enormously. Earl Winterton added that with one or two exceptions the internal political situation in India had undergone a marked improvement during the past year. The most important factor had been the collapse of the Non-co-operation movement and the realisation by the ignorant masses that they had been duped by the extremist leaders.