A CRISIS IN INDIAN AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 July 1923, Page 4

A CRISIS IN INDIAN AFFAIRS.

(J!y Sir .Montagu Webb. Kt., C.1.E., C.15.E. Member of the Indian Legislative Assembly). The life of India’s .Parliaments is now drawing to a close. The general election will probably be bold in N’ovcmbei next, when the electors’ verdict on the working of the Reformed Indian Constitution will be made known. What will that verdict he? But little news reaches the public iu Gioat Britain of the good work done by the various legislative bodies iu India. And yet that work is of great utility. Some idea of its character may be gathered from the fact that in the Legislative Assembly abate (there are now also eight Provincial Parliaments), in addition to many thousands of questions find answers, great numbers nt resolutions have been dealt with, on such matters as Government health services, military policy, education. I rathe in girls, railway finance, scholarships, for research work, protection of unskilled emigrants and of women wage earners. and the like, while Acts have been passed dealing with electricity, emigration. Indian ports, negotiable instruments. paper currency, the Press, tho criminal procedure code, tlt.- civil prm edure code, racial questions, saving--hanks, land aquisition. married women’s; properly, mines, factories, boilers. workmen’s compensation am! many other similarly important matters. Perhaps the most striking work ol the Indian Legislative Assembly has been its courageous handling of Lidia's recent Budgets. To cover large deficits, caused mainly by the debiting of tic- whole of the cost ol the last Afghan War and subsequent frontier expeditions to curernt revenues and none. of if to loans, the Assembly has twice voted heavy all-rntmd increases of taxation, estimated to bring in 121 million pounds in 1921 and a further IGA millions in 1922. Moreover, the Assembly a year ago. out down expenditure by 9 midio" pounds, and insisted upon the appoint incut cf a Retrenchment Committee. Lord 1 nclicape's Committee was the result. This year the Assembly refused to vote further taxation in the lortn ol a doubling ol the- salt duties to covet a small estimated deficit for 1923-21 of under 2.1 millions oil the grounds that (a) a heavy salt lax is bail in principle: (1>) the estimated deficit is only a temporary one pending the recovery ol trade and the carving out of the whole of tile 13 millions of ret rom l'meuls re commended by tho lltehenp'' t o utniiti e and (c) Ollier less objectionable taxation would be imposed it id solutoiy it i-i-snry. which, if i- urged, is not. tie-cii-e now t hat re-t red uins on export' have been removed and the crop prospects are among the best ever known. Government disagreeing v. tf.h Git' view, ami considering that Lidia s ei*’ ,|ji j,, i!n> eves of the I otuliMi marke' might sHirer if this pn-sib!e deficit were a,it covered by doubling tlm --alt duties over- ruled the Assembly's livcLcm. am' ihe doubled duties are now being co! looted amid lend protests I rout most o: l.li people's representatives. It seetlts a pit v thill tlm A-- "iblvb line record should end iu a serious on pule with Government, just tti el"cfiun time too, because these elect inns --1 im first licit! alter the introduction of the reform scheme-- wilt be very critical. Supporters of the N'aimnnl ( migt'ew and followers of Mr Gandhi have n> |w*at"<!lv tievribed the reforms as mere sham, on the ground that Uwv d-i net give to Indian legislators real "-over, and are now threiuciiiiig to vine!, 'hem 1-v means of a comprehensive boycott. Indian opinion is xolidlv vita t no Acsi’.nbly; so abo is much European 'million. A large!'-' signed petition bv a'udIndian legislators (.-onto 99 of v bom have spoken or voted against lie doubled Milt duties), has 1 |>ro- ., ■•-:■,! to the House of Commons, and ' nuttier will I nme up for discii.-i ion v lieu the India Oilin' vote i- taken tomorrow. If is hoped that some saltI-,, ;,,i-solution of tlm dilli-ttlty id be tumid.