The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1928. AX INTIMATE VIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1928. AX INTIMATE VIEW.

Arnoros of the political conditions in India, with special regard to the administrative side of affairs, Sir Janies Huberts, who is a noted surgeon, recently arrived on holiday from India. In reply to the inquiry of a northern pressman as to what lie thought of the action of the Indian Legislative Assembly in deciding to boycott the Simon Commission, Sir James replied : “You have to interpret political news from India with the knowledge that the so-called discontent among the educated and political classes is due to the fact that we are trying the experiment of introducing democracy together with a form of responsible government. the foundations of which were laid by the Chelmsford-Montagu recommendations.” The visitor spoke of the varied interests which have boon brought into conflict, of the more than •70 separate races in India, of the peoples of many castes who do not in-ter-marry, and of other causes of unrest in the political arena. “The most interesting thing in India.” said Sir James, “is the system of administration,” Tracing the history of the Indian Empire, he showed that the system has been created by the genius of the Indian people themselves. “It is.” he said, “the most efficient administration in the world, and this is so because the authorities have adhered .to the native methods inherited from 1

th past. “In recent years,” added the visitor, “there has been a cry throughout the world for democratic government, and this was interpreted b.v the politicians in Britain as meaning that India, was demanding democratic government Most Englishmen of experience in India believe that that cry was misinterpreted, that what the Indians asked for was not so much democracy as a considerable part in the power and authority of government, and that instead of being entirely British it was to lie more Indian than British, employing the educated Indians in the higher ranks.” Sir .Tames remarked that the Indian Legislative .Assembly is not the supreme power in the land. The administration of the Viceroy has always been, and still is, tho supreme factor. “The. Indian people,” he. said, “are extremely sensitive, and can Ire swayed by political or religious sentiments to an extent which is scarcely realised by tho more calculating and staid Europeans. The present vote of tho Assembly in toyrotting the commission is not to be wondered at. There has been colnsidcrable complaint that no Indians were included in the personnel of the commission. What people do not realise is that India consists of native states occupying about one-third of its territoiy and about 60,000,000 of its people. Those native states do not look to the change of government with any feelings of assurance, because they do not wish to Ire subordinated to n government elected bv the people of British Tndia. The situation is delicate and difficult, and their loyalty to the Throne binds them to the Empire in the same way as the Dominions are bound as separate entities of the Imperial system.” Sir .Tames has a strong belief in the ability of India and of the administration to evolve an efficient and satisfactory system of government.