INDIAN REFORMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1918, Page 8

INDIAN REFORMS

LOCAL HOME RULE

STEPS TOWARDS SELFGOVERNMENT

Important steps towards self-govern-ment in India are proposed in the report issued of Mr. Montagu, tho Secretary for India, and' Lord Chelnißford, the Viceroy, following an investigation of nearly six months' duration of the problems involved.

The War Cabinet on August 20 last gave a pledge that substantial steps should be taken as soon as possible for "the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to tie progressive realisation of responsible government in India as an integral pars of the British Empire." The report of Mr. Montagu and the Viceroy is published, not as definitely adopted in all its details by the War Cabinet, but for purposes of discussion and criticism. Its main proposals are: Complete local self-government. Extended responsibility to Provincial Legislatures, to be mainly elected.

The Vice-regal Legislature to be divided into two Chambers.

Periodic inquiries as to further extensions of popular control.

A Select Committee, of the House of Commons on Indian affairs.

An inquiry into the working of Secretary of State's Council and the India Office.

An Indian Privy Council and a Council of Princes.

Side by side with complete popular government in local bodies the provinces are recommended "the largest measure of independence, legislative, administrative and financial, of the Government of India which is compatible with, the due discharge by the latter of sts own responsibilities." Devolution is to take the form of giving responsibility in certain "transferred subjects"—those affording most opportunity for local knowledge and social serpice, those in which Indians have shown themselves to be keenly interested, -those in which mistakes, though seirious, would not be irremediable, and those which stand most in need of development.

With this view the Executive Government in all the major provinces (excluding Burma) will consist of a Governor and an. Executive Council of two members, one an Indian, to havo charge of the reserved subjects, and of a Minister or Ministers to have charge of the transferred subjects.

The Legislative Council in , each province will have a. substantial majority of elected members, chosen on as broad a franchise as'possible, and the official element is to be uo larger than necessary for the transaction of business.

As regards the division of the Viceregal Legislature, the existing Council will be named the Legislative Assembly of India, and have 100 members. The official majority will disappear as twothirds of the members are to be elected. Of the remainder, to be nominated by the Viceroy, not less than a third again will consist of non-officials. The Second Chamber, the Council of State—to "develop something of the experience and dignity of a body of Elder Statesmen" —is to take its pait in ordinary legislative business and to be the final legislative authority in matters which the Government regards as essential. It will consist of GO members, exclusive of the Governor-General, 21 to be elected and 29 nominated. The appointments to the Indian Privy Council will be made by the King-Em-peror for life. The Council of Priuces will consider questions affecting the rative States, and those of concern either to the Empire as a whole or to British India and the native States in common. A Commission will be appointed ten years after the first meeting of the new Councils to resurvey the whole political situation and judge what further do rotation can be made, and there will be similar commissions at intervals of not less than twelve years.

The report states that the further approaches to complete self-government must largely turn on the measure in which tho growing electorate gives evidence of an active and intelligent use of the franchise.