ENCOURAGING PROGRESS

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1930, Page 7

ENCOURAGING PROGRESS

FUTURE CONTROL! OF INDIA.’, THE FEDERAL STRUCTURE ' formulation of points PROBLEMS TAKING SHAPE British Wireless. ' Rugby, Dec. 3. Encouraging progress has been made by the sub-committee of the Indian Conference'dealing with the questions of Federal structure. The problem presents so many issues more or less correlated th,at a preliminary covering of the ground was essential. This has been effected, Jfßd certain specific questions have taken shape, for instance: What are to be the component elements of the federation Will there is in it the ' States and Provinces or the States and British India ? Will there be two Chambers or one? Will the States’ representatives sit in one or both? Again, should there be a Federal authority dealing with all subjects,-or X should there in addition be an authority dealing with British India subjects .only? And in such case which would be ledcral and which British India subjects? 1 Further questions , requiring consider - at ion relate to the powers ot the execu- ' tive and Legislature, the relations of one . to the other, also whether there should be an executive responsible to both Houses, and the fate of the present . House and its. jurisdiction. Another subject for consideration is the? sovereignty of the Princes. Attention was drawn to the fact that subjects of the States are not British subjects, and the necessity of a co-equal partner-

Havirig drawn up a list of questions to be dealt with broadly on‘the foregoing lines the sub-committee began th© examination of a provisional list of subjects of common concern as between British India and the Indian States on which detailed consideration can begin. There are subjects which can actual y be regarded as Federal subjects including shipping and navigation, lighthouses and buoyage, port quarantine, salt, rency and coinage, savings banks, commeree (including, hanking and insurance), tradin" companies and other associ tions, control of the cultivation and the manufacture of opium and its sale . and - export, control of petrol and inventions and designs, copyright, emigration from and immigration into India interproviricial migration, traffic in . arms and ammunition, meteoro census and statistics, federal services, ' the immovable property of the Fedjial Government and the Public Service Com ' mission. ’ • . ’ t - BUSINESSLIKE ACTION. As the result of discussion the sub- ■ committee decided to add provisionally ■ th© two important subjects of railways hnd maritime customs.io the list of subjects, which may tentatively be considered of common concern as between .BnTish. Ihdia and the Indian States. The businesslike manner in which tins committee is handling its task a -stimulated a spirit of optimism in conferenee circles. . .It is understood m its discussions there has been a complete absence of attempts to score mere debating points and a genuine and un ariimous desire to help forward the work entrusted to the committee. , The same spirit showed itself m.the provincial constitutional sub-committee which, under the chairmanship of the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Arthur Henderson, held its first meetng to-day. Following the example set by Lord Sankey s committee, it engaged in a discussion frofn which a senes of concrete questions were formulated which will be taken as a basis of future procedure. Among these questions were the. following: Is it practicable to abolish the distinction between reserved and- transferred subjects? The reserved questions in the provinces are those which rested in the'hands of the Government of India and the transferred subjects are those which are placed under the control of the provincial authorities.. A question formulated is: W.if any, provisions are necessary to safeguard, firstly, the ; administration of law and order, and, secondly, the rights of the minorities or any other interests. Although a special committee has been set up to deal with the minorities question the position of the minorities in any provincial constitution must oi necessity “be considered by this■ committee which in future will, doubtless join forces, as occasion requires, with the minorities committee. Another questipn propounded is:— Should all special powers be exercised by the Governor or should some cised by the executive-as a whole? Where should the* Governor obtain . the advicenecessary for the exercise of his special powers? Should any provision be made in the event of a breakdown in the nor mal constitution and, if so, what emergency powers should be given, firstly, Jo -the Governors, and, secondly, to.the executive ? What conditions 2? requisite for the exercise .of this Under what safeguards should they b CX The committee charged with considering the . conditions enabling Burma o separated from India will hold its fir st meeting to-morrow and it is probable that Lord Russell will be chairman.