ANGRY CROWD FLEES FROM POLICE RIFLES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1030, 22 July 1930, Page 9

ANGRY CROWD FLEES FROM POLICE RIFLES

INDIA DEMONSTRATIONS PROVINCES QUIETER United P.A. —By Telegraph —Copyright Reed. Noon. DELHI, Monday. The police at Madura, near Madras, were compelled to fire three volleys to disperse crowds of Congress demonstrators who picketed the country liquor shops. Eight persons were injured and, a .man and boy have since died. A British Official Wireless message from Rugby says the Government of India’s weekly appreciation of the situation, which deals in detail with the events during the week ending July 19, was circulated to members of Parliament today.

It shows that during the period, despite inevitable fluctuations, there was no serious retrograde movement and that on the whole the atmosphere had improved. In several areas where tension existed the situation had become easier.

More evidence had been received of the effect of the civil disobedience movement in encouraging lawlessness in a direction not connected with the movement. REACTION AGAINST CONGRESS In Bengal, for instance, disturbances involving many villages were caused by attacks upon moneylenders by debtors, as the result of which 12 people were murdered and much looting occurred before order was restored. Students had been active in various towns and much interference with the work of the educational institutions had occurred. All districts of Gujerat report an improvement, and some local officers consider the civil disobedience movement definitely on the decline. District reports from the Punjab are almost unanimous that the situation is definitely more encouraging than at any time since the civil disobedience campaign developed, and they indicate a strong reaction against Congress activities. On the other hand there have been signs during the last few days that the extremist akalis may give a certain amount of trouble. IMPRESSED BY VICEROY Tliq Central Legislature completed its session during the week. While there was inevitable criticism of the measures the Government had been compelled to take, there was a general recognition of the harm the civil disobedience movement is doing to India in all directions, and the desire was freely expressed that the movement should be ended. The belief is steadily gaining ground that a solution of India’s difficulties js to be sought along the lines indicated in the Viceroy’s recent speech—that of attempting to reach agreed conclusions at the round-table conference, the principle of which was supported by the Legislative Assembly after a full debate without division. The Viceroy’s speech has created a marked effect, and moderate opinion is expressing itself more strongly in favour of the abandonment of unconstitutional methods.