CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1932, Page 7

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE

PROBLEM OF THE FRANCHISE

DISCUSSION OF REPORT

PROVISION FOR DEPRESSED British Wireless. Rugby, Nov. 21. The detailed work of the third Indian Round Table Conference began to-day under the chairmanship of Lord Sankey, Lord Chancellor, when in accordance with the provisional agenda the conference took up consideration of the report of the Indian Franchise Committee, dealing with provincial legislatures. The Lothian Committee reported that adult suffrage was an impracticable method of election at the present stage. It equally rejected, after examination, modifications to the adult suffrage, including systems of indirect election, The committee recommended instead an extension of the franchise by direct vote.

The general opinion of the conference on this was that the recommendation of the Franchise Committee be accepted and there appeared to be general agreement that the essential basis of the franchise should be property qualifications, as proposed by the Franchise Committee.

Regarding the principle of educational qualifications in addition to property the debate showed that many members Would welcome it and certain members felt very strongly that it ought to be adopted, but it was recognised that practical difficulties required further detailed exploration. It was agreed, since the general qualification proposed by the Lothian Committee will enfranchise only a relatively small percentage of the “Depressed” classes, that special provision be made to secure the presence on the electoral roll of a larger percentage. of the Depressed classes, and that the percentage of the Depressed class' of voters to be aimed at should be 10 per cent, of the Depressed classes’ population in each province.