The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1925. CONDITIONS IN INDIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 September 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1925. CONDITIONS IN INDIA.

Inci.cdkd in tho. number of distinguished journalists who recently visited New Zealand on roil to to the Klilj»ire Press Con fereuee at .Sydney, was .Mr Arthur Moore, director and acting editor of the Calcutta, “.Statesman.” lie has made a careful study of the political situation in India, and offered some interesting observations on the subject. Conditions were very unsatisfactory in 1!>21, but in the. middle of 11)22 a marked improvement bad been brought about, while the present position was infinitely better than it was at the time Cord Heading was sent out. Acting in a very statesmanlike manner, 1/ord Reading remained entirely unmoved by the clamour of the non-co-operationists who, while recognising that the. Montagu Act conferred iipui India a limited constitution, definitely persisted that it wan a sham. He also remained equally unmoved by the cries of a small .section of ‘diehards’ who contended that the Act went too far. JIo has made no concessions, and, on the other hand, has not been reactionary, and the Act has been steadily administered. The non-co-oporationists boycotted the first election, with the only result that the first council was tilled by c o-operationists. The council displayed a considerable amount ot political ability, and succeeded in making great changes in finance and legislation. This put- the non-eo-opera-tionists in a difficulty, so that at the end of the second election they ■ food as candidates, declining to cooperate with the council ; that is to sav they practised a policy of politiea’ lotvist I'uotlion. Cnfortunately for them, although they did succeed in 1920 in making a demonstration against the Budget, the principal legislation of the year was to protect the iron and steel industry, which had been of great importance during the war. but had got into great difficulties during the post-war slump. As this industry was represented by a single firm that was entirely Indian, all the Indian Nationalists wore anxious to .secure protection for it. The non-oo-opora t ion ists were forced to protect the industry, and therefore to cooperate. They have also not been anlo to resist the parliamentary atmosphere which exists at Delhi, and more and more they have been dropping the policy of obstruction. This year the Budget was passed, and the pretence of non-co-operation practically abandoned, except in Bengal and in the Central Provinces. In Bengal. Mr C. R. Das. who long remained an eloquent champion of non-co-operation, finally abandoned it, and has since died. The movement died with him. The administration is far more favourable than it has been at anv time since the war,” added Mr Moore, "and it is my belief that tbe Act will ’ne carefully tried out. Jr- is now

much too early to make a further step towards the goal of Dominion status which has hocn set up. The Act laid down a' preliminary period i.l ten years which will not expire until 1030. Now that India has cot over the fever of agitation which disturbed her when the Act was launched, we should have a much better opportunity of seeing if the Act is a failure or not. It is much too early to sav one way or the other at present. hut prospects are bright. There is no alarm in business circles, and th.- volume of British business, as well as the number of English people, is increasing every year. T regard India as vital to the Empire.” he concluded. “This is also the deep conviction of all the best Indians, and tho Indian masses.”