INDIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1923, Page 2

INDIA.

NO PLACE FOR THE EUROPEAN

Life for the average European in India tvas once upon a time a pleasant stay of many years of profit and romance, likened almost to an Arabian Night's dream come true. But that was long ago, and the romance and affluence that you could find in those good old days have now practically gone, while present-day conditions show clearly that the possibilities and other charms which attracted thousands of English, Scotch, and other Euro|X‘an.s in the past to seek their fortunes in Bombay, Calcutta, and other parts of India will never return again. Not, anyhow, to the jaded, harassed, befooled European worker of 1923, who, after answering the call of the East, arrives in the midst of pan in native form of hotel nut) and punk-h:-.s, i.o find that India is merely a snare and a delusion, and a horrible mistake.

The reasons for llio change aro not; hard to find. The Westerner lms so long taught the Indian how to do mostly everything i:i the way ot tinde and professions, which he before alone could do—and still, mercifully, in most eases generally does better—that his counsels are no longei so indispensable as they were in the dark days of Indian ignorance and inexperience. As a result the European is not wanted now so badly, neither is he considered to he worth mure than a very normal salary, which in most eases is totally insufficient as a spending power, alter the landlord or bonrd-ing-liouse proprietor has had his share. Modern hurra sahibs (big business men) and business heads are not of, the quality India once possessed. The. old Limes knew not the ‘new idea’ crank or the racial equality advocate of recent years, who, having gathered together a substantial fortune by various moans, spends the last years of his stay patting the hacks of useful fndians, and making them believe that their colour is a virtue. Thankfully, these gentry pass from the eountrv rather speedily —when they do decide to go—hut generally not before their pecuniary interests are transferred to a safe haven, well away from Hie land that gave them much wealth and temporary glory. Others, less wise, remain to gather up more and more, even it would seem as though just to prevent the weary “waiters" from coining into their incomes and well-worn office desks.

Many students of society contend that Europeans ot both sexes who made a longthv stay in India deteriorate beyond redemption, and when one looks around amongst some of the “old-tim-ers” there is a certain amount of evidence to .support the charge. It is also said that many men in India who unfortunately placed would lie denied important employment elsewhere, and that remark is possibly quite justified in many eases hv persontl experience.

All over India there are stiil manv greedy partners and job “hangers-on,” who intend to take all file juice from the lemon before they will return to their native heaths, and decide that it is time to lie down and die. Indeed, it is small wonder that many of those who have remained over-long have found a perpetual resting place in Indian soil.

But it is not these typos who are feeling the pinch of new times and new conditions in India at present. It is the man of the last five years who is the most bewildered amt dissatisfied European in the country to-day. He has nothing, and is worth nothing. There is no vision for the future when you try and look through had trade returns, liquidation, high living costs, low salaries, staff reductions, no bonuses. no wile, no credit, 1 ndianisation and perspiration. On every side there is the writing on the wall that the day of the European in India i' all profitable and comfortable purposes finished. How much "I longer, then, will men routine to waste their lives in a land that can offer 93 per cent, of them nothing better than a hank overdraft, or the i>oot, or both.