INDIA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1931, Page 5

INDIA CONFERENCE

IND IA’S CONSTITUTI ONAL FUTURE.

(United Press Association.—By Electric

Telegraph. Copy right.)

(Reoeived this day at 9.25 a.m)

LONDON, November 1

The fix st concrete suggestion of the Round Table Conference embodies a draft report by the Federal Structure Committee, which declares that the solution to India’s constitutional future depends upon a federation of provinces and States, including Indian as well as British India, and recommends two chambers of 200 'and 300 members respectively. 1 .epresentatives of British Indian provinces’ upper house should be elected to a, provincial legislature, the lower house be ing elected directly from constituteneaes embracing 1,250,000 people. Landlord interests, commerce and labour ■should be specially represented. . The Committee does not consider the Governor-General should be empowered to nominate representatives of the Crown in both Chambers but as the exclusion of elder statesmen is disinclined, a run for election is undesirable. A small proportion of seats iir the Upper House should be reserved for appointment by the Governor-General. < . . Acting on the advice of the Ministers, if the, Houses disagree, the GovernorGeneral ought to be empowered to call a lioint session. The Committee recommends members to take She oath of allegiance, but do not suggest any formulas.