KIGHTS OF MINIORITIES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1930, Page 9

KIGHTS OF MINIORITIES

PROVINCIAL CONSTITUTION INDIA CONFERENCE REPORTS BURMA STATUS DISCUSSED MORE COMMITTEES SET UP British Wireless. Rugby, Dec. 16. The Prime Minister presided over the Indian conference when it sat in full committee', to-day to consider the reports of the sub-committees on Burma and provincial constitutions and the interim report of the federal structure sub-committee. The Prime Minister said the reports were not being adopted in the ordinary way, but had merely been brought , back to the full committee to enable any member to make observations regarding the proposals. The proposals had to be. considered merely as raw material for the purpose of drawing up the final scheme.- . ’■■ . '

The federal i structure interim report was adopted practically without comment.

When the provincial constitution report was discussed the, view was advanced on behalf of certain minorities that their representation -in the Cabinet should be statutory. The vjew was also expressed tliat the Governor’s emergency powers were too wide and vague. There was general agreement that special powers for Governors were necessary, although no very specific opinions were expressed as to whatthese should be. . ’ ~ When the Burma sub-committee’s report was. under discussion Mr. Shiva Rao and some other British-Indian delegates expressed doubt whether the Burmese really did desire separation from India and suggested that the question might be decided by local inquiry. The Burmese delegate, U. Ba Pe, said separation from India was a universal desire in Burma, but some wanted separation now with Dominion status later while others were opposed, to separation now because of the doubt whether they would receive Dominion status later.

-The conference decided to set up additional aub-committees. One will/report on rirhat modifications, if any, are to be made in the' general provincial constitution to suit the special circumstances of the north-west frontier province. Another will consider on what main principle the franchise is to be based for men and women. z A third will consider the questions of political principle relating . to defence other than strictly constitutional aspects'under headings bf-powers of the executive and reMtions with known terms of reference, being"meant to include such questions as Indian- taxation but to exclude minor ; administrative matters. ‘/ " A fourth sub-committee will consider the relations of the. service to the new political structures, including such subjects as responsibility for internal administration and police in the provinces. A sub-committee on the question of, Supreme' Court will aisb -be set up and Lord Sankey’s sub-committee wilt have referred. to it points four and five on the Lord Chancellor’s list of heads'of subjects, namely, what are to be federal and what central subjects and. secbridly. should there be few'subjects at first with power to increase them or would it be, better .to have as many subjects as‘possible now. Fqlloiyihg the usual procedure the' members of ’these subcommittees will be nominated by the chairman on the advice of the business committee, which will meet to. consider the matter to-morrow.