FUTURE RULE CF CEYLON

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1929, Page 2

FUTURE RULE CF CEYLON

CHANGING VIEW ON NEW SCiIr.ME. COLOMBO, April 1. Eight months luive elapsed sinc\e the Donoughmore Commission appointed to study and propose changes in the existing Ceylon Constitution issued its report, and it is possible now to sum up the general opinion here on the recommendations. Ope of the proposals was the increase of the electorate from 200,000 to 1.530;0..0, fastening the major responsibility for government of the colony on the C'ey onese. This, it is thought, would lead to an increase of abuses in the administration and strengthen the caste system. The native communities, winch are now represented individually, regard the scheme with a mixture hopefulness and suspicion. MINISTER’S VETO. The commission-also suggested that the Legslative Assembly should be replaced by a State Council, with power to deal with executive as wei* as legislative business. Another proposal) would give the Secretary of State power to veto Government decisions. The present Legislature would now probably accept the scheme if the Government submitted a direct motion in the terms of the ultimatum delivered hv Air Amery, Secretary for the Dim ill ions, last Novemlier. Air Amery declared that self-government for Ceylon as quite impracticable, and that failure to accept the Donoughmore scheme would not bring the prospect of such government any nearer. The Legislature’s acceptance would be on the principle that half a loaf is hotter than no bread. The council has already rejected several vital parts of the scheme, but this is internretable as an expression of disappointment at the report’s opposition to complete self-gvernment. Europeans generally are prepared to give the scheme a fair test, though they regard it as unduly complicated.