INDIAN ASPIRATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18023, 19 May 1930, Page 9

INDIAN ASPIRATIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sir —I am afraid Mr Hansen does not know his India, ancient or modern very well. His letter m 'Times conclusively proves tha • there is no need to dissect his state--ments. Only one do I wish to draw his attention to, and enlighten him upon, and this as well as other knowledge of the real situation he cou.have gleamed by more extensive reac- . ing-of all sides of the question, and by striking a balance between their, all. Mr Hansen says “The Government does not aim at fitting Indians to rule themselves. With a few notable exceptions Indians are not allowed to nil the most important posts, and even where admitted, rarely receive more than about a 25 per cent, salary, Ims ■ ■ is an absolutely inaccurate statement ; ' Did Mr Hansen but see the London Gazette occasionally he would see -hat . half the appointments _ to commissioned ranks in the Indian Army and medical service are of Indians. Did he - but see the passing-out lists into the Lndian Civil Service he would - see that half or more of the lists are made-up of. Indian names, not alone from the great schools and universities of England, but of India as well. The idea of the new Indian Royal Navy recently formed is to train Indian officers and seamen, so that as soon as there are a number qualified, and others being trained to follow them, India will have-her own navy, a navy manned by Indians and run by Indians, in the same manner as Australia had a navy manned by Australians and run by Australians as distinct from British control (I say “ had ” advisedly in view of recent events in the Commonwealth). As to the Ipdian Air Force, every inducement in the way of money, training, .aero clubs, etc., •is being given Indians to develop their air sense. Witness the recent successes of Mohan Singh, and several other flyers native to India. All the professions are open to Indians, and all the , public services, and in all on the same s basisv;Qfbremuneration as a European employed- in a similar capacity. With his 25 per cent. Mr Hansen must have ... been thinking of the Babu of popular ■''- •magazine-Action. He is-part of India ■and occupies the lower positions in commercial and other concerns that Europeans do not occupy. He receives remuneration commensurate with serr vices rendered. — A am, etc., COSMOPOLITAN.