GOVERNING INDIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 759, 4 September 1929, Page 9

GOVERNING INDIA

PEOPLE ARE COMPETENT NEW ZEALANDER’S VIEWS That the people of India can govern themselves as efficiently as the English could about the year 1830, is the opinion of Mr. C. J. K. Price, M.A., 8.C0m., F.R.E.S., who returned from Calcutta by the Narbada this morning. Mr. Price, a New Zealander by birth, has been acting-principal of a Presbyterian high school in the Punjab during the visit to the Dominion of the principal, Mr. Ryburn. The people have learned the basic principles of democracy, Mr. Price believes. The ordinary man is not interested in politics and does not mind who is ruling, but certain sections are clamouring for the granting of Dominion status. The Swaraj party, Which chiefly urges its claims to selfgovernment, holds 40 of the 144 seats of the Indian Government. Led by Pandit Motilal Nehru, it brought forward a resolution recently declaring that, if Dominion status is not given the country by December 31 next, a nation-wide movement of non-co-oper-ation will be inaugurated.

It is recognised in India today, according to Mr. Price, that self-govern-ment in the provinces is essential and the wisdom of granting fully representative government to the whole country is under review. In accordance with a promise made 10 years ago, an investigation has been made by the Simon Commission, but its report has not yet been issued. The strikes and industrial troubles of the big manufacturing cities of India are not in any way connected with political questions, the evidence pointing rather to Communist influences. Mr. Price will leave for Sydney on September 27 to take up the position of director of youth work for the Presbvterian Church in Xow sN.nth Wales.