INDIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 9 February 1917, Page 4

INDIAN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

GREAT SPEECH BY THE VICEROY.

Received 9.30

DELHI, Feb. S.

Lord Chelmsford presided at the first meeting of the Imperial Legislative Council winter session. In a lengthy and impressive speech lie urged the members to avoid controversial questions and concentrate energies to-

assist the Empire to achieve victory. Regarding the abolition of the system of emigration and indentured labour, the Viceroy emphatically declared that neither the Government of India nor the Secretary of State would depart from Lord Hardinge's pledge.*, but the question of abolition required much enquiry and investigation in order to guard against a bad system being succeeded by a worse. A special mission was sent out to Ceylon and the Malay States, and its report is expected at the end of February. The intended conference representatives of the Indian and Colonial interests will meet in London, and may formulate a scheme acceptable to both parties. The Colonial Office wholeheartedly accepted the decision that the present form of emigration must cease. The colonies concerned were showing the utmost ncifr nes s to co-operate to remove objectionable features. The Government of India will presently undertake whateveß registration is necessary in a wholly sympathetic spirit. The Government intended to deal expeditiously with the public service commission's report, including the question of increased employment of Indians in the higher branches of the service. Referring to the recent ordinance requiring the registration of European males of eighteen to fifty, he said the time had arrived when India should release for service in the field the British units which ar e not otherwise employed in garrison duty. It was proposed to introduce a bill whereby all European British subjects from eighteen to forty should bo liable to general military service in India, those from forty-one to sixty compulsorily enrolled in local military service and youths from 16 to IS for military training. It was alsoproposed to enrol Indians in their own units for general military service in India for the duration of the war; within six months. Lord Chelmsford paid a.tribute to the frontier officers who had brought to naught the schemes against India's security. The political importance of the Mesopotamia* .campaign will be known in the future. Persia had remained benevolently neutral, and Siam hud crushed vours of our enemies," while theV Amir of Afghanistan steadfastly upheld his neutrality. Referring to the enormous importance of the representativesjblioscn to attend the Dominions Conference, he said it marked a new chapter in India's history, and he was confident they would establish India's claim to retain in the Council of the Empire the place won by the loyalty of her people and the gallantry of her soldiers. ■ ; .