CONDITIONS IN INDIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 106, 9 May 1946, Page 4

CONDITIONS IN INDIA

Sir, —Mr. M. W. Smith, replying to Mr. Watkin’s statement regarding the “Conditions in India” asked him “How does Mr. Watkins propose to make them prosperous?” “To prosper a country, she needs her national Government. No nation would ever prosper while under foreign domination for exploitation and prosperity cannot go together.” “As regards the number of literate Indians two hundred years ago, I can tell him that all Indians were literate a few hundred years ago. Mr. Smith asked him: “Where is the money to come from to build hospitals in India?” “Well, where did the money come from to build hospitals in New Zealand, Australia and other countries of the world?

“With regard to his statement on drinking of water within a few feet of floating corpses. This is extravagant. For no human being would ever drink such water. The purpose therefore, of concocting such tales is to stigmatise a country. Can he define me when the Marriage Act was nassed and when did it come into force? He also made an abortive attempt to analogise the policemen who guard the people in Wanganui witji that horrible force used in India. The Question is this: Have thev t<he NZ. Police) ever used such force as this given in the following extract from a paper received from London? “There followed, says the report, an orgy of looting, plunder, rape, beatings and shooting, firing and burning. Military rule was set up. A man was tied (o' the tail of an elephant and dragged along the road before the officials in charge. People were bayoneted. They were stripped of their clothes and whipped on the roads. A collective fine of 12 lakhs of rupees (£90,000) was imposed by the Government. Forty-six persons were shot, dead and many more injured. One hundred homes were burned, and another hundred razed to the ground. Much booty in valuables was taken.” The above - mentioned incident occurred in 1942.- I am. etc., ALAKH RAM. P.O , Fordell. May 6, 1946. ______