GREAT INDIAN REFORM

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 703, 31 December 1909, Page 8

GREAT INDIAN REFORM

CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW' COUNCILS. .:..."■ .';' ; .A' NEW YEAE GIFTV -/|:.'■''; ':A- striking epoch in tho history, of. India was inaugurated on November 13, as the .final details of Lord Hinto's groat reform Echeme, which lias been occupying the Government of-India andtho-'lndia OfSce for over three.years were published on that day. Tho papers, which, press and public have been eagerly awaiting, appear in a special "Gazette" issued at Calcutla, and occupy 450 pages of print. . •■■.'■' . -. They comprise: Firstly, a ehc-rt notice bringing the new Councils Act into force; secondly, the rules';. and regulations "for guiding the constitution of the enlarged Imperinl and Provincial Councils ■ with election rules; thirdly, rules for the disenssion of the annual financial statement and general resolutions and .for the. asking or questions; and, fourthly, a Government, resolution explaining the reasons of the changes made and. their main details. The resolution showa that the Imperial Council will consist of, 68. Membera, .while the number of members in.each' of , the Provincial Councils .will', be as'follows:— Bengal, 51; Madras- arid Bombay, each 48; the United, Provinces; , 49;. Eastern Bengal and :Assam, 13; the Punjab, 27; and Burma, 18. .' ; ; ': ~, :" V The Moslem Vote.',.";" The Viceroy's has : an" official majority. of , three, while all the Provincial Councils' have non-official; majorities; ranging .from fourteen in Bengal'to three in Burma.. In the' Viceroy's Council the Mohammedans will have in the first Council'.six inembere.'.elected by. purely ..Mo: hammedan electorates,. and will .also presumably get seats in .Sind and the Punjabi as.the resolution says that a-repre-sentative of the Bombay .landholders-on the Imperial Couitcil will ■bo Selected., at the first, ■;third, and 'subsequent "alternate elections'by the Sind landholders, the great majority of "whom are .Mohammedan, anil at the other .elections by. the Sirdars of Gujeraj; , arid ihe Deccan/ , the majority of whom'are Hindus. ■'■.'■ "-.;..-■ Again, the," Punjab landholders' consist equally .Of , Mohammedans and -non. •Mohammedans and presumably ; a Mthammedan. will be alternately chosen, Accordingly it hasi been decided that at the second,/ fourth, and alternate tions, when these jtwo seats- shall not be held by Mohammedans, there' shall b< two: special , : electorates '.oi , Mohammedan 'landholdersy who "are/' en titled to vote for thei member representing .: them in -, the ■'.* Imperial i Council and the landowners of;'the;United-Provinces and of Eastern Beigal and Assam' respectively. The- : Bombay Mohammedai member-of the imperial Council willbe elected by: the jion-pfficial; Mohammedai mombers of the-Provincial Coilncil. ". ;The.. tea-..and jute industries get fire .members on the Provincial, Councils ol the Bengals and Madras.. . ... ' , •■ All members, are' required to. .take the oath of allegiance to the; Grown before sitting .on any of the councils,. and. nc person-is eligible for election if, the Imperial or a Provincial Government is: oi opinion that his- election would: bo , con- ' trary to public interest, This provjsioi takes the place of the old power to, rojeel members selected by. the,electorate. ' >■,'.,. The examination .of' the annual .finandal proposals is divided into ..three: parts, first.allows, a,chance;for discussinfl jiny'alteration in- taxation,;an'd auy new loan or grant.to. a; • local _• Government, ' TJnder. the "socohiJi'.Kny head-' of ? fevetiue or 'expendituro will be explained-by the member \in charge of ..the' 'Department eoricerncjd,': and ' any resolution may b( s*ovcd, L &nd:-'at.the third stage the, Finance Minister presents his• budget,'.aud explain! 'why any•rosoktiDns.will,not bo/accepte'cl, a general"disc'assibnfpllowjng. ■'.■:,'; ,•'•,■ ■•■". -.' r '; ? i^Lord'',M|nloV -Hope/.; ■';'; ,•-■ The ..as - follows:— "The , - new;'' Provincial will as- : senible'early in' January,, and^tho Im. perial Council: in tho courso .of :thal month. .'. It is a sourco of great. 1 satisfaction .to the Viceroy ..personally; and to his Council that .. tho ■ '.deliberations which .'■ have . extended, ■ -..over, : . the greater',■ part.' of . Lord .'Miritos, Viceroyalty \ havo : ■ achieved'. .'their ; .. purpose before ■ his: .'Excellency -Jays;/dpvfn ' his office." The 'maximum strength, ofstlic 'councils was:i2e;,it:is ; ;now, 370.;.,. There are now* 135. elected inxembers,. against 39, ."'.nxomber ■■' will sit ■ as of right'/needing:no Official confirma; tion.; The iunctions of,: the councils'.are greatly, enlarged. :'Memljers.can-demand furthor information, in reply, tovformal answers,'and discussion, yillvbelallowEd on all matters of public, into.rest,- /They will also in future, be■ enabled to-.take a , real 'and active; part ill: , shaping fi; nancial,proposals.;'Thoj; will.;:haVe liberal opportunity, to Criticise,, and to, initiate ' and suggest, 'definite resolutions. .: : ' "The. Goyernpr-Gerieral feels that, these momentous changes ! constftute ,a':gerierous fulfilment,,of the...graoipus;' mtentipo . foreshadowed'"inr the :Kwg-Empefor s message to ..entrust' the;, .leaders; of, the Indian'people'"with.:.a'greater;.share it le"islatioii. • 'The .Government eonfidentlj looks forward to these extensive,powers . being -loyally and. wiselyi.uscd,' in association' with the holders, of; the execu.tive authority to. promote .the.prosperitj and contentment" of: all ■■ classes of this : great country.";/-.',', :■''}-'■■. :'■'::'•■ '■■;■. '"■':■>•. ■■;/.'..' :: Moslem Opinion'. ~ ; '■'■' Mr; Ameer AH, C.1.E., president .oi the London" branoh of. tlie ,AII. India Moslom, league, interviewed by. Keuter, said : that the; Indian Government. : had had before them three proposals :by. Mohammedans for Mohammedan landholders' representation. /It had- adopted • •modified;two suggestions;iyith regard tc four' provinces—Sind, the Punjab,;tlu United' Provinces, "/and Eastern Bekj;al ■ This left ; put of, the questionhMadrai and Western Bengal/-and-. : also"6mitt«d " to consider the: contingency of,,a:Moham.medaiiVlandkoMer-, not being, elected, ;ii certain circumstances in 'Sind.. or the Punjab.:' • ''While , not ..enthusiastic, he : .said that , the - provisions !of the re-presented-a, distinct';advance; on the first ■ .proposals, _-. '/' . .;;' /; ■.' /:: ■'."■•'■ : -: ■'■"■. •; ■