THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1913. THE INDIA OFFICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 6 February 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1913. THE INDIA OFFICE.

The departure of Lord Islington from Now Zealand, to form one of a Commission to inquire into the condition of the Civil; Service' in India, lias aroused some interest in the administration of the India Office, f rom accounts which have recently come to hand, it would appear that there is something "rotten in the state of Denmark,'' or, rather, of India. The London Times of December 27th comments upon the fact that the India Office has been carefully kept out of the terms of reference of the Royal Commission that is to investigate the , state of tho Civil Service. Tho Times ' says tliat : tile India Office is not sacrosanct, though its defenders try. ,to make it so. There has been no public inquiry into its working since 1-858. When the. civil officials of every other great Department in England and in India are underdoing examination, there is" no reason why tho India Office should claim exemption. There .should bo a public inquiry, and tho 'terms of reference should be as wide as possible. They should include sucli questions as the manning of the Tndia Office, the exercise of patronage, the methods of financial control,

the way in which Indian funds are handled in England, and the degree to which responsibility for finance now vests in individuals. Above all, the suggested Commission should pay special attention to the constitution and powers of tho Secretary of State's Council. Jt should consider whether it is expedient or necessary that tho Council of India should include gentlemen of business experience who by virtue of other positions have separate relations of another kind with the Tndia Office. It slioukl also inquire how far the Council of India is now permitted to exercise its advisory functions. To us it would appear that, while the non-service members of tho Council are at present allowed to exert an altogether disproportionate amount of infhieneo at the India. Office, the sen-ice members wit]): profound Indian experience are reduced

to more ciphers. In its collective capacity the Council has in recent years been thrust aside 'by imperious Ministers and aspiring Secretaries. It no longer fulfils the purpose for which it was constituted. Jt has been shorn of its •emoluments and diminished in dignity. It should either be strengthened and restored to its rightful place as a consultative and advisory body to the Secretary of State, or it should be abolished altogether; and wo think thsi .system under which Great Britain governs India would be greatly weakened by its abolition.