INDIAN REFORM.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1918, Page 3

INDIAN REFORM.

fAVSTRAmAN it N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

FURTHER PARTICULARS

LONDON, July 7

The Indian Commission’s report says that the time is now the time when India’s sheltered existence cannot he prolonged without damaging the National life. Her Nationhood within the Empire will be something better than India has yet attained . The great task is to call forth her capacity of seif reliance nationhood, instead of caste feeling. The, committee worked out a scheme with the object as far as possible of giving complete and popular control to large bodies with the largest possible independence, and securing a progressive realisation of Responsible Government for her provinces, some measure,, whereof, should be granted to the provinces forthwith, with a view to granting complete responsibility at the earliest possible moment. The Central Government must remain responsible to the British Parliament, but with that exception, its authority must remain indisputable. Pending experience in tho proposed changes, in Provincial Constitutions, the Committee emphatically reject the argument that local Self-Government must wait until other reforms create a suitable atmosphere. They assert that Indian hopes and aspirations have been aroused to such a pitch that they cannot be opposed by a mere grant of control over Overban Rural Boards. Moreover, the development of the'country has reached a state at which wider application of self-Government would be justified. Without tho peoples’ co-operation it is increasingly difficult to franchise composition provincial measurements, which are not detailed by the retention of communal electorates as recommended for the Mohammedans where they are in a minority, similarly in regard to Sikhs.

The Committee of the Indian Constitutional Reforms reports in favour of the bifrncation of the Vice Regal Legislature into a second chamber, to he called the Council of State. The creation of an Indian Privy Council and a Council of Princes. The Committee also favours increased responsibility to Provincial Legislatures, to which representatives directly elected should be sent. Franchise should be “yes” and should he as broad as possible.