INDIAN PRINCES

Hokitika Guardian, 16 October 1931, Page 6

INDIAN PRINCES

FOR FEDERATION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 14. The Federal Structure Committee of the Indian Round-Table Conference further considered the report of its Finance Sub-Committee. The .discussion was adjourned until' to-mor-row. Sir Tej Sapru urged that the Expert Committee on Finance, contemplated in the report, should he set up by the New Zealand Government, which should take the final decisions. Buying the interim, special financial powers should be given to the Governor-General in Council. ■S'ir Akbar Hydi* said the Native States had not changed in their attitude, and federation was still thengoal, but it was essential that the States should know in advance use full implications of the Federal Fin-" a.nc-e scheme. For this reason, he was opposed to leaving it to the new Federal Government to set upi the Expert Committee.

His Highness of Bikaner reiterated his faith in federation, but said that they must know, broadly, the extent of their obligations. Sir M,irza Isnial, Prime Minister of Mysore, urged the total .abolition of the tributes from the Indian Native States.

Mr Gandhi recommended that the report be referred hack, and that the Sub-Committee be asked with the material at its disposal, to produce a minimum scheme to which the States could agree, defining, a s far as possible. the sources of the revenue, so that a start might he made with the federation.

Slmfant Ahmed Khan said he was convinced the federal scheme was not in danger, as the financial proposals in the report afforded a substantial foundation for future federation. The work of the expert- fn/nclose or other enquiries could bo completed in twelve months, and in the meantime, the existing conditions should continue. The Expert Committee should lie appointed by tire Crown, and its report, together with those other enquiries, he considered later on inIndia.