INDIAN LEGISLATION.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 612, 5 June 1876, Page 4

INDIAN LEGISLATION.

«< Lord Lytton,” writes the London correspondent of the Argus on March Bth, “ has left our shores on his way to India. Some light is supposed to be thrown on the resignation of Lord Northbrook by the correspondence recently published iu a little blue book on the Indian tariff. Lord Salisbury has asserted the supreme power of the Imperial Government over legislation in India in a manner which has caused some irritation in Calcutta. Two years ago he sent out a despatch requiring that a copy of every important Bill coming before the Legislative Council should be sent home in time for the Secretary of State for India to forward out any remarks he might desire to make. It was, however, found necessary to exempt from this order all measures ‘ urgently requiring speedy enactment.’ Among the questions which arose last year was one relating to the tariff. Lord Salisbury had objected to a 5 percent import duty on English piece-goods especially, as ‘the only remnantjof protection within the direct jurisdiction of the English Government,’ and as hostile to English manufacturers. On the other hand, the Viceroy and the Legislative Council held that the duty was not protective, but only a fair tax (yielding £900,000), and much to be preferred to many other methods of taxation. It was the season of the year most convenient for dealing with the tariff, and the bill was accordingly carried, on the plea of urgency, without further consultation with Lord Salisbury. The Indian Secretary immediately telegraphed that this despatch of the previous year had been set aside, and asked for an explanation. This given, Lord Salisbury reaffirmed his position, and to * avoid any misapprehension,’ he requested that in future when it was contemplated to withdraw a measure from the operation of ‘ the legislative despatch’ of 1874, on the ground of urgency, the intention should be immediately communicated by telegnph. This is tightening the Imperial rein. No wonder the Calcutta officials have chafed, and that in Indian circles, as well as in many quarters at home, it is believed that Lord Northbrook’s plea of failing health is not the sole reason of his resignation. Lord Lytton, before his departure, received a deputation from the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, and in reply to their representations said that Lord Salisbury was not ‘ dictatorial,’ and that for himself he ‘accepted the new point of departure.’ ”