POSSIBLE EMERGENCIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2414, 20 March 1915, Page 7

POSSIBLE EMERGENCIES

LEGISLATION IN INDIA I NATIVE LOYALTY UNQUESTIONED Delhi, March 18, The Viceroy (Lord Hardinge), speak- . ing in tlio Legislative Council, said that . on a previous occasion he had alluded . to the desire to ayoid controversial r questions, and a number of important • measures had already been deferred. - The measure now being introduced was a precautionary one,,to ensure the publio peace, and was no slur on the people. The Government had been informed that the measure was absolutely necessary to meet possible emergencies. No one was moro jealous for the houour of India and its reputation for loyalty, and ■ ho was not disposed to allow the honour of India to be tarnished by tlio criminal act of a few unbalanced minds. Ho preferred to take the Council into his confidence rather than promulgate an ordinance. He wis confident of their help and co-operation. Sir Reginald Craddock (Home Department), in introducing the measure, congratulated the country that the need for such a Bill had not been previously felt. Iffe emphasised that it was ill tlio nature of war measure, and was required in order to arm the military authorities with special powers which the emergencies of war might demand, and to nip in the hud any manifestation of lawlessness beginning'to show themselves. Ho gave full recognition to the general loyalty of the country. He alluded to the campaign engineered on the Pacific Coast of America, where some deluded men had had their minds poisoned. They returned to India, and in the last few months had committed ants of violence in Bengal, where there had been a recrudescence of seditious activity, and which had become mora ' daring. The two movements were not ' unconnected. In the Western Punjab there had been looting and incendiarism, and racial conflicts between the Hindus ' and Mohammedans. The danger was only serious if not checked promptly. Tho Hill fell in two parts. The first was generally applicable, and immediately empowered the (Jovernor-General in Council to issue a regulation to ensure the «al'ety oF the country, modelled on Ihe English Defence of the "Realm Act. The second part permitted the creation of special tribunals of threo Commissioners. three of whom must, have the qualification of a Sessions •ludire, fo hear cases made over to theni 1 by tlv» local govcrnnipnt concerning i breaches of the regulations under the : Act of any offence.punishable bv trans- s < portation or imprisonment for seven s ; vc-ars. The order of the tribunal would v be final. I .Numerous Indians heartily supported c Ihe main principle of the Bill, which . was unanimously pawed, A Li