INDIAN FINANCIER

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12620, 3 December 1926, Page 2

INDIAN FINANCIER

VISIT TO DOMINION BRITAIN A POLICEMAN IT* INDIA. Sir Char.les Todhunter, who is at present on a tour of New Zealand and Australia, has a record of 36 years/ia the Indian Civil Service, being an expert in Indian finance, and was for five years Minister for Finance in the Madras Government. He was also president of the committee of inquiry into taxation in India. “Before the war,” says Sir Charles Todhunter, “Indian revenue was obtained almost exclusively from land taxation, but in recent years the position has altered considerably* Whereas in pre-war times the land tax produced more than three-quarters of the national revenue, the Customs duties are now the greatest factor in Indian finance, and the land tax has assumed a position of secondary importance. This is not because the laud tax has been reduced. It has remained almost constant for many years, but increasing needs of the Government have demanded an increase in revenue, .and Customs dues have been gradually increased until to-day they occupy a most important place in the financial scheme. The burden of additional taxation is'spread very fairly through this channel, and partly no doubt, on account of . its gradual introduction has met with very little protest.”

Referring to a recent claim to he the brightest jewel in Britain's crown, Sir Charles Todhunter said:—“l do not care who is the brightest jewel so long as the Empire remains united. Britain is in the position of a policeman in India, standing by to keep the peace while Brahmin struggles to oust the European, the caste mart struggles with Brahmin and the outcast attempts to rise from the depths. There is much communal strife throughout India, but Britain has little to fear from it. The phenomenon amounts to little more than ‘growing pains.’ ” Sir Charles Todhunter is keenlff interested in the arrangement m Government finance in this part of Empire. In 1029 an inquiry into th% working of the 1919* constitution of rndin will be held, and a feature of the discussion will bo the financial position between the nine Indian provincial Governments and the central administration at Delhi.