INDIAN QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1932, Page 5

INDIAN QUESTION

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE.

FRANCHISE AND VOTING RIGHTS

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Nov. 22. Detailed work of the Third Indian Roiled Table Conference began under the chairman (Lord Sankey) when, in accordance with provisional agenda the conference took up consideration of the report of the Indian Franchise Committee, dealing with provincial legislatures. The Lothian Committee reported that adult suffrage was an impracticable, method of election at the present; stage. They equally rejected, after examination, the modifications of adult suffrage, including systems of indirect election and also the franchise based on a combination of direct and indirect election. They recommended, instead, the extension of the franchise by direct vote.

The general opinion of the conference on this was that the recommendation of the Franchise Committte be accepted, and there appeared to be a general agreement that the essential basis of ° franchise should be the property qualifications, proposed by the Franchise Committee. .

Regarding the principle of educational qualifications, in addition to property, the debate showed that many members would welcome it, and certain members felt very strongly that it ought to be adopted, but it was recognised the practical difficulties required further detailed exploration. It was agreed that since the general qualifications proposed by Lothian Committee will enfranchise only relatively a small percentage of the depressed classes, special provision be made to secure the presence on the electoral roll of a larger percentage of the depressed classes, also the percentage of depressed class voters to lie aimed at should he ten per cent, of the depressed classes population i n ouch province.

The Indian Round Table Conference completed to-day its discussions on the woman franchise question. At present the women electors in India are in the ratio of one woman to 21 rnen. The Lord Lothian Committee considered this proportion insufficient, and made various suggestions for considerably snereas : ng the number of women voters. Lileraev qualifications, plus a property qualification produced a ratio of one woman to 12 mop voters. The Confc'cmc on the whole seemed to favour a literacy tost* in preference to a primary standard test, since it gave a lam* • number of women voters. Some difficulty was encountered regarding the wives’ and widows’ class, numbering 4,300,000, the inclusion of

which would increase the ratio tff women' voters to "mo woman to 4.4 men. There a ore several objections advanced to this qualification, and it was agreed that the matter should be further examined. It was suggested that a separate section might lie received, giving a wide latitude to various provinces in dealing with the question regarding the method of election to British a ip] Indian seats in the Federal Assembly. The Conference favoured direct election, but as this question is not unconnected with the sze o,' the Federal it was pointed mit that acquiescence in direct election should he without prejudice to any later decision on the size of the House. It was generally agreed that the qualifications for the present legislative councils would be suitable for a new 'Assembly.