REFORMS IN INDIA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 5

REFORMS IN INDIA.

DECENTRALISATION. A CHECK IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. CLAUSE REJECTED. (DT TEIEGEAPH— PKESS ASSOCIATION— COPTEIGIIT.) (Reo. March 5, 9.40 p.m.) London, March 5. An important debato took place in tho House of Lords on tho Government's Indian Councils Bill, resulting in tho rejection of Clauso 3, which empowered tho GovernorGeneral of India to creato an Executive Council in any provinco under the. Liouten-ant-Goneral. Dospito tho appeal of tho Secretary for India (Lord Morley) that the measure was urgent, tho Lords rejected tho clause by 41 votos, tho voting being: For tho clause ... ... ,„ 28 Against tho clauso 59 Lord Curzon (Unionist ox-Viceroy of India), Lord Lansdowne (Unionist Leader in tho House of Lords), and Lord Macdonnell (formerly a Lieutenant-Govornor in India and a member of tho Viceroy's Council) opposed Lord Morloy's scheme, though they were sympathetic with regard to tho difficulties of tho situation. Lord Northcote (recently Governor-General of Australia and formerly Governor of Bombay) said tho Bill would take power from British representing a hundred million agriculturists, and would give tho control to councils of middle-class politicians representing insignificant minorities. [Lord Curzon, who stands for centralisation, is roported as saying: "I believe in a strong Government of India gathering into its own hand and controlling all tho reins." Lord Morley, en the other hand, holds that the provincial administrations have too little power of initiativo and decision. Many politicians ngree in principlo with his decentralisation policy while differing as to details.]