FALLING OFF.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20283, 18 April 1934, Page 1

FALLING OFF.

End of Civil Disobedience Hoped For. MANY PRISONERS RELEASED. British Official Wireless. (Received April 18. 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April L?. Evidence of the falling off* of civil disobedience in India was given in the House of Commons when Sir Samuel Iloare stated that local governments had for the past year been releasing persons convicted of civil disobedience before the expiration of their sentences, when satisfied that their release was not likely to encourage a revival of the movement. As a result the number of prisoners, which at the end of April, 1932, was approximately 32.500. had fallen at the end of last month tc about 1450, of whom over 6CO were in Bombay. Sir Samuei Hoare added that this policy would be continued, and if civil disobedience were called off effectively he hoped that it would be possible to expedite the releases. Although civil disobedience as an Organised effort had ceased to exist, it had not been openly and entirely suspended. “ The Times ” points out that this must be done before the Government of India will be in a position to review its future attitude to the Congress. Ihe next move, therefore, rests with the Congress Party. Should it endorse Gandhi’s recommendation to abandon civil disobedience, the decision will foreshadow a return to constitutional methods, which is viewed in political circles as a definite step forward.