INDIA & ITS PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2172, 10 June 1914, Page 7

INDIA & ITS PROBLEMS

AN ADDRESS AT THE Y.M.C.A:

There was a large attendance in the Y.M.C.A. Assembly Hall .last night, when 'Mr. J. H. Lang, representative of the Australasian Young Men's Christian Association, in . the Indian mission field, delivered a lecture on "India and Its Problems." The lecture was illustrated by lantern views and covered a wide range of Indian scenes and subjects. In. tho courso of his remarks the lecturer said that one of tho great gtorfes of British administration'in India was that it had mado' possible among a people so diverse ; and separated by origin. language. and religion, the growth of a national aspiration. At the first Nationql Congress hold in India it was found that tho only languagp possible for uso was the English language, because it was tho only ono known alike to the educated men who eame from tho different provinces. The introduction of: railways, telegraphs, steamers, irrigation works, and industries had produced a condition of things that' was making India into a new India. It was the glory and crown nf British administration to-day that India was not asleep, was not'apathetic, .but; was alive and tingling. Even tho edition movement was onlv an indication of that. Mr. Lanr; said that whilst sedition was popular fivo yearß ngo, it was now in disfavour, and had been rigorously repressed. At the same time, however," tho Government viewed with sympathy every effort for self-govern-rriP'it, the result being that they now had in embryo several civic institutions. 'JTie lecture was listened to with attention, and at its-conclusion Mr. Lane was accorded n very hearty vote of thanks. Mr. W. H. George presided, in the unavoidable absence, owing to a death in his family- of the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke).