CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 86, 28 April 1937, Page 6

CONSTITUTION OF INDIA

( Britisb Official Wireless.)

Gandhi's Proposal* Rejected G0VERN0RS' POWERS

EUGBY, April 26. A further statement on the political lituation in the Indian provinces where Oongress majoritics have declined to ussume the responsibilities of government was made in a House of Commoni answer. "I observe from recent comment aa to the intention of the Congress resolution that the main apprehension appears to be lest the governors should use theix special powers for detailed interference in admihistration. His Majesty 's Government have no intention of counten* "incing ihe use of special pOwers fot other than the purposes for which Parliament intended them. "It is certainly not the intention ihat governors by a naTrow or legalisfcie Interpretation of their own responsi•ailities should trench upon 'the wide powers which it was the purpose of Parliament to place in the hands o£ ministries and which it is our desire they .should use in furtherance- of the programmes which they have advo« cated." This pronouncement was made by the Under-Secretary for India; Mr E. A. Butler, who -added that a request t,o- the Yiceroy frOm Gandhi or any other leader would be considered. Mr Butler vlso explained why Gandhi's suggostion of >Tefcrence to -the issue of the governors' powers to a 'tribunal ,was unacceptable, since it was. not for such a body to decide whether a governor could or. could not, coiisistently with the Government of India Act and - hie Instructions, " divest himself , of the ?!utics imposed upon him.