INDIAN REFORMS

Southland Times, Issue 22490, 26 January 1935, Page 5

INDIAN REFORMS

BRITISH PROPOSALS TEXT OF BILL ISSUED DETAILS REVIEWED (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Rugby, January 24. The text of the Government of India Bill which consists of 451 clauses and 15 schedules, and extends to 350 pages, was issued this morning accompanied bv an explanatory memorandum which states that the Bill is an expression in legislative form of the report of the Parliamentary Joint Select Committee. The Bill provides for the establishment of an All-India Federation constituted by linking the eleven British Indian provinces (two of them new) in a Federal system with those of the Indian States prepared to enter the federation by the voluntary act of their rulers. The establishment of a federation is dependent on the accession of States containing not less than half the total population of all the States, and entitled to fill at least half the seats provided for the States’ representatives in the Federal Upper House. No change is made in the internal regime of the States, nor in the relationship between their rulers and the Crown outside the Federal sphere. The Bill enables the provinces to manage their own affairs to a greater extent than at present. A great majority of the departments of Government which affect individuals from day to day, including law and order, as well as certain items of revenue, for example, land taxes, are made the business of the provinces. The Federation will deal with matters such as currency and tariffs, which concern India as a whole. Two questions of great importance —defence and foreign relations —remain the direct responsibility of the Governor-General. Each of the provinces will have a directly-elected Legislative Assembly and in five provinces there will be an Upper as well as a Lower House. "The Federation itself will have an Upper and Lower House composed of members indirectly elected by the provinces and representatives nominated by the States. In all Assemblies, Federal and provincial, the quota of seats is ensured to various minorities. Both at the Federal centre and in the provinces the Governments will be formed of Ministers responsible to their Legislatures in much the same sense in which the Cabinet in this country is responsible to Parliament. Except in the three reserved Federal departments of Defence, External Affairs, and Ecclesiastical Affairs, the Governor-General and Governors, as heads of the Federal Government and the Provincial Governments respectively, will be guided by the advice of their Ministers so long as they are satisfied that to do so does not conflict with certain special responsibilities imposed on them in the Bill. Special provision is made to deal with the problem of terrorism. General Political Effect. The general political effect of the Bill is to provide that in the provinces, and with certain reservations, at the Federal centre, there will be a system of parliamentary government, except when circumstances call for exercise of the over-riding powers of the Gover-nor-General or Governor. Provision is made that recruitment in this country for the Indian Civil and Police Services shall continue, and that service rights be preserved. The discipline of the police and the independence of the judiciary are protected from the effects of political influences. A safeguard is introduced against the fiscal freedom of India being used deliberately to damage British trade with India. Burma will be separated from India, and the Bill provides for a new Constitution for Burma on the general lines that are proposed for India. Powers are also provided for assumption by the Governor-General of all the powers of the Government in the event of a breakdown in the Constitution. . . , With regard to the entry of Indian States into the Federation it is proposed that immediately after the Bill has been passed the Crown should enter into negotiation with the States individually for the conclusion of their accession to the Federation. The extent to which each ruler is proposing to accede will be brought to the knowledge of Parliament before the latter, by an affirmative resolution of both Houses, invites his Majesty to issue a proclamation inaugurating the Federation. Executive authority will be exercised in the Federation by the Gover-nor-General, and in provinces by the Governors, but the Governor-General and each Governor will have a council of Ministers to aid and advise him. Another technical term used in this connection throughout the Bill is the phrase “exercise his individual judgment.” This phrase, which is applicabl. to matters within the purview of Ministers, means that the GovernorGeneral or Governor, after considering the advice of his Ministers, is free to direct such action as he thinks fit, that is to say, not necessarily _ accept the advice tendered to him. This course is open to the Governor-General or Governor, firstly, whenever certain special responsibilities enumerated are in his opinion involved, and secondly, whenever any of the powers conferred upon him to act specifically require him to exercise his individual judgment. Whenever the Governor-General or Governor is “acting in his discretion” or “exercising his individual judgment,” he is subject to the superintendence of the Secretary of State. GOVERNMENT BILL VOLUMINOUS DOCUMENT. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 12.45 p.m.) London, January 24. The Government of India Bill, a voluminous document of 323 pages, 451 clauses and 15 schedules, embodies, with only slight variations, the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee. The Joint Committee’s report advocates that an All India Federation should be built up of self-governing units and should be substituted for the present centralized government. Eleven British Indian provinces, two of them new ones, would be linked in the federal system with the Indian States, who would enter the federation by the voluntary act of their rulers. No change is contemplated in the internal regime of the States, nor in the relationship between their , rulers and the Crown outside the federal sphere, but it is proposed that the provinces should manage their own affairs to a greater extent than at present. The great majority of the departments of the Government which affect individuals from day to day, among them law and order, as well as certain items of revenue, for example land taxes, would be the business of the provinces. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MOSLEM LEADER ELECTED PRESIDENT. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) filec. 11.55 a.m.) Delhi, January 25. Sirabdur Rahim, the Moslem leader, has been elected President of the Legislative Assembly. He received 11 votes more than Sherymni, the Congress leader.