India Commission Goes Amid Cheers

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 257, 20 January 1928, Page 9

India Commission Goes Amid Cheers

LONG, DIFFICULT TASK CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS British Wireless—Press Assn. Copyright Reed. noon. itUGBY, Thursday. Lord Birkenhead, Secretary for India, speaking at a luncheon of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, referred to the Commission which, headed by Sir John Simon, left London to-day for India, to investigate there the subject of constitutional reforms. He said the members of the commission had undertaken a task which meant that they must spend four months of this year and seven months of next year in India, and th»n they would have to devote many months more to studying the material they had collected. He had the highest hopes of the success of the commission. He added: “I have formed a clear view that the less interference from this side the better, unless any matters of real principle upon which the commission desires to consult me become involved." The departure of the Indian Commission was attended by an unusual demonstration. Several hundred people were assembled at Victoria Station. The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, Lord Birkenhead, Viscount Peel (a former Secretary for India), Earl Win terton, Under-Secretary for India, and a large number of members of Parliament of all parties were present. Sir John Simon expressed his thanks for the splendid send-off. A great cheer was raised when the train moved off, Cabinet Ministers joining in. There were many Indians in the crowd.—A. and N.Z.