INDIAN POLITICS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17385, 23 April 1928, Page 8

INDIAN POLITICS.

A MISSIONARY’S OBSERVATIONS. AN ABSORBING SUBJECT. “Politics form a subject of absorbing interest to all educated native classes in India to-day,” said Rev. \\. M. Byburn, a Presbyterian missionary v.no lias spent the past five years in thfl Punjab, India. Mr Ryburn is at present on furlough in Dunedin, and in an interview he referred to the present agitation for a form of Home Rule that is disturbing the peoples of the Indian Empire. . “Everyone is awaiting the finding ui the commission led by Sir John Simon that is at present investigating the possibility of self-government for India,” he continued. “The natives aie rather bitter- about this Simon Commission, as it is called. They resent the fact that there arc no Indians among its members, and even the moderates are against tlic way in which the whole investigation Iras been arranged. As a matter of fact, there is in India to-day a general mistrust of the British Government, arising out of the breaking of promises of various kinds, many of which were made during the war. The Hindoo peoples, continued Mr Ryburn, were the most enthusiastic supporters of Home Rule, and the majority were advocating a form of government with its relationship to Britain on a similar basis to that of New Zealand. The Mohammedans were, as a whole, not so keen on Home Rule, as they were in the minority, and were afraid that, for them, Home Rule would mean Hindoo rule. At the present time Hie outlook was disturbing, and it, appeared ns though there would be trouble of some sort if the finding of the commission was against the wishes of Ihe native peoples. It was frankly admitted hy all factions Unit Britain had done a great deal for India, but they considered that the progress had been of a material nature, and on flic moral and spiritual side England has been holding Jndia 1 jack.

Jf The Best Solution. I am of opinion that some form of self-government would be the best solution,” observed Mr Ryburn. ‘'But, of course,” he hastened to add, “that is not generally admitted. Under self-government the administration might not be so efficient for a time. There would be bribery and a good deal of corruption, but I think that this would right itself in time.” Referring to the activities of Gandhi, who became famous for his political agitations, Mr Ryburn said that he was stilt “agin the Government,” but bad apparently abandoned his political work, and was conducting big and successful campaigns for various social reforms. lie was still a very influential figure and he was using Ms power in an endeavour to do away with “untouchabilily”—the doctrine that consisted of the despising of “outcasts,” or people considered Lo have no caste and who dwelt under unenviable conditions on the outskirts of every village. Re was also conducting a campaign that had as its object the introduction of the spinning wheel among the people, in order that they could make their own clothes and have a sparetime secondary industry on -which they could rely. One of the activities of the present Government in the Punjab was the introduction of better agricultural facilities for the native small farmers. In the district to which he belonged the majority of the farmers were poor. Their holdings were small, and they lived in a sort of vicious cirele which, resulted in debt. They had bad implements, they'spent a great deal more than they should, and they did not save. Many of the ploughs used on the holdings were of antiquated pattern, and it was the custom to make a log of wood perform the functions of a harrow. An official attempt was being made to introduce modern steel ploughs, and although the poverty of the people was a stumbling block some progress bad been made.