UNSETTLED INDIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 882, 28 January 1930, Page 16

UNSETTLED INDIA

NOT YET READY FOR HOME RULE INFLUENCE OF GANDHI “Things are very unsettled in India. Gandhi has ?! big following and there is a feeling of uncertainty in the air as to what is going to happen next.” This was the opinion of the Rev. E. Palgrave Davy, F.R.G.S., who returned from India on the Maunganui this morning. Mr. Davy left Auckland last year and has been working at Coonoor In South India. He had intended to work there permanently, but personal reasons compelled him to return to New Zealand. He is by no means a stranger to India, having gone out in 1892, when he worked in the country for 16 years. He is deeply attached to the country, and like all those who have lived under its burning skies often feels the longing to return again. Mr. Davy is firmly of opinion that the time is not yet ripe for India to govern itself, and thinks it would be a very bad thing for the country if this comes to pass at present. He said that in some respects Gandhi was a very fine man, but he was very surprised at his recent secession speech, which was strongly worded. Mr. Davy mentioned that the scheme for uniting many of the religious bodies in India was meeting with a good deal of support. The movement was steadily growing, and he thought a great deal of good would come out of it. Those affected were the Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists. Whether it was brought about or not would depend largely upon the next Lambeth Congress. Naturally in a country like India, where the members of the various religions worked together such unity was far more easily achieved. Mr. Davy will take up his residence at his home at Bayswater.