The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1918. THE INDIAN REPORT

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13817, 11 July 1918, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1918. THE INDIAN REPORT

The repoi'l of Hi- Committee which was appointed to consider how Indian constiliilhmal reform ini.irhl be brought abeiil has appeared, and we have had a cabled summary of it. 11 is stated to lie :i bulky document, and contains proposals based on six months 1 investigations. It would have been interesting |o liav- ie-n supplied Willi the names of Ihose who Comprised the Commission, as the value of the report intisl nec-ssarily depend In a great extent upon the knowledge and reputation of those who are resp. able for it. There is a long-standing "irrel between members of the India;, -ivil Service and Hie political Iravei: :• who studies the counlry during a brief visit. The lirsl-na I laughs at lh- idea of understanding India without spending an appreciable pari of a lifetime therein, whil- the latter derides the Civil Service as sunk in routine, wedded lo red tape, and unable to entertain new ideas. 11 would, therefore, be interesting to know from which of these classes the

members of the Commission were appointed. The English newspapers which have had Hie opportunity of perusing the reporl arc said to be chary of detaih'd criticism, and there are good reasons for such an attitude apart from Hie complexity of the problems. The truth is that India, like every part of the British Empire, behaved when war broke out in a manner which wanned the hearts of everyone. While the reports from India wen' tilled with laics of sedition and complaint, I" an extent which might have made an outsider think that revolution was imminent, no sooner had war been declared than this discontent was hushed at once. Some of [he most prominent leaders in the campaign against the (ioverr.menl called at once fur a truce and for loyal support of the Viceroy. The native princes vied with e;,ch other in solid manifestations of loyally: troops, munilions aild money Were supplied with royal generosity. This attitude, too, in spite of some stray outbreaks of discontent, has been,well maintained, and the enlistment of native troops is said to he heller (his year than ever. It would, therefore, be a matter of genuine pleasure to meet the wishes of those in the great dependency who ask for self-government, if any workable scheme call he provided by which this can be carried out. The difficulties, however, are enormous, and no good object will be served by refusing to face them. It would, of course, he absurd to criticise the reporl upon the cabled summary whicli has been sent us; but we might point out thai the arrangements mentioned therein are all j concerned with the constitution of Councils who shall assist the Viceroy

and the Lieutenant-Governors of the various provinces in tlic execution of their duties. It is stipulated that a fixed proportion of these Councils shall consist of elected representatives, and the distinction between executive and legislative functions is drawn with care. There is, however, no mention made of who are to be the electors for these representatives, and it is upon this question that the whole matter hinges. India is not a country inhabited by people of one race. It is, on the contrary, a continent inhabited by 300,000000 of people who differ as widely in character, religion, capacity and development as is well possible. In a recent magazine an article appeared by an Indian claiming that 15,400,000 of the 300,000,000 were literate, ami the mere mention of this fact shows the difficulty in arranging for representative government. When only one person in twenty can read, it is obvious that the selection of representatives and the judgment passed on their action will both be inadequate. It is, of course, possible to grant a restricted franchise, but the evils connected therewith are great and may well lead to more serious discontent than any we have yet had. Who is to speak for the great, mass of the cultivators who live in remote villages, upon incomes thai appear to be incredibly small; who are uneducated and without the means of ' urging their wants. The cultivated In- ; dian, often highly educated, and with a ' capacity for assimilating bunk learning . which is often remarkable, bus nothing '' in common with the cultivator of the I fields, and the latter might well regrel , a change which look his fate out of the t

hands of the Hrilish civil Servant to place it in that of an elected assembly in which his voice is not heard. The most widespread uf Ihc religions is Hrahniinism, with ils unhappy accompaniment of caste. Amongst ourßelves we often see cause |o ivuivi eia.vdistinctions, bid any!l in- thai we know of such things is slight compared |o Hie rigid exchlsiveness of Hie hiUieaste Ur.dunin. Who i> |,, ~,, ;,j-!i«■.-done fo (he low caste e ,i iv ,. .' 'riie.-e are anioii'-sl ill.' pr< liminan iiii'liculije.-., bill they Ulil j ro\ e\ce,- | ;;■- l\ Oi, i CUil to deal Will. bo!' 1 .\i,r| •;■ . when Secretary ■'■.;■ !i: ii i. m ide advances In Hi';' nali\ e Indians hi s-'.,i.- m;: Hie e\- ■ i :;■'-' i • 11;.b.dica b > ill) :iiii-ii!i->:i of' .0 banpliii : ! : i ! • l :.; 11 ; •,,!. .■ partial' , n - lacy s>si"ie lb' is bile.- il a ,!,••. : ■.; ! adherers! .. II • hi..,.| ; d\ .;|i 'd \.< V. j bill he is ~|... , ~ j.eho.'ai' mid -tub lli. \ and ki)o\\> • •., ; j-. i.(•■ >■ n! <ti\' -hvi rn - '

111-11 li- 11. i M ■ ... - -.- ■■ .. - ~f d-1110, |-;,c\. Ih..i|::|i ;! :,. , |,e |jie mo-l suitable for i 1 <. 111.. ■_• - ,i-'.us |i ■•< p|.-s, sii-h as Hi.- communities. If li" would riot supporl parliamentary gov.-rmu-nl \w mi ■; !••■ -in- Id-re ; ,iv V""d m-'i'iials fur !-. V-| j| is parliameiilary -< \-nuii-nl, which a small educated 11, ill :■;!> demand, an.l which lh- report i-..:iti'inpl-ites. II ni'ty !"' said thai such views rule nut any advance in lh- direction of selfirovernment, hul this is rml (he ca.se. Self-government musl com- slowly, and inusl begin Willi local matters. The real difficult;, lies more with the e|-e----wiio naluraliy pi ,i.| f ,;■ e\t, ude.j powers. The doings of locally-elecled representatives can be si-i-n ; , n d judu-ed, iind if mislakes are made Lhey will he l-ss disastrous. As the political hahil grows, ill- possibilily i.f granting larger powers Will Coin.', hut il lllllsi lie IVCognised that lh- process will take u long time. India cannol he rush-d in a generation through changes which have occupi-d KnjdamJ fur 700 years, •hir gratitude arid our appreciation of Hi«'il' loyally are v-ty genuine and W-II deserved, but it would he hut a poor return to present them with a system of governmenl moulded on ours, hul 'luitc unsuitable to them. There j s a i-crlain tend-ncy to be captivated with words and phrases, and if it is allowed !o run riot, if will prove a hindrance

and not a help | , freedom and progress