REFORM IN INDIA

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 124, 22 November 1932, Page 7

REFORM IN INDIA

THIRD ROUND TABLE

DETAILED WORK BEGINS

FRANCHISE PROBLEM

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 22nd November, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 21st November. Thedetailed work of the third Indian Bound Table Conference began to-day at the House of Lords under the chairmanship of~the Lord Chancellor, Lord Sankcy, when, in accordance with the provisional agenda, the conference took up consideration of tho report of the Indian Franchise Committee. Dealing with Provincial Legislatures, the Lothian Committee reported that adult suffrage was an impracticable method of election at the present stage. It equally rejected, after examination, modifications of adult suffrage, including a system of indirect election and also a franchise based on a combination of direct and indirect election. They recommended instead the extension of the franchise by direct vote. PROPERTY QUALIFICATION. The general opinion of the conference on this was that the recommendation of the Franchise Committee should be accepted, and there appeared to be a general agreement that the essential basis of the franchise should be property qualifications proposed by the Franchise Committee, subject to such modifications of detail as might prove necessary. ■ Regarding the principle of educational qualifications in addition to property, the debate showed that many members would welcome it and certain members felt very strongly that it ought to be adopted, but it was recognised that the practical difficulties required further detailed exploration. THE DEPRESSED CLASSES. It was agreed that since the general qualifications proposed by the, Lothian Committee will enfranchise only a relatively small percentage of "the depressed classes, special provision should be made to secure the presence on the electoral roll of a larger percentage of the depressed classes; also that, the percentage of depressed class voters to be aimed at should.be 10 per cent, of the depressed classes, population in each province, and that such of the differential qualifications suggested for' this purpose by the Lothian Committee as might be necessary to secure this result, in the light of varying conditions in each province, should be adopted. Discussion' on the general qualifications of women for the • franchise was begun, but adjourned until tomorrow.