INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 305, 21 December 1908, Page 2

INDIA.

llUmsil tIOYEKiWUENTS I'KOI'OSED KEEOIUIS. GREATER -MEASURE UF SELFGOVERNMENT. London, December 18. Mr. T. It. Buchanan, Under-Secretary lor Jndia, in his statement to tile House of Commons regarding Inditi, explained that it was not intended fo establish advisory councils, either I«n» pcria! or provincial, as tbeir function* would be better discharged by enlarged Legislative Councils, llic enlurgeiiKl ill oi these Councils and the extension ofc tbeir functions to the discussion of administrative questions were deep-rough-ing features of,the new. scheme. 'i'lie provincial Councils would be increased in size and greater reality would be given to their debates. The Governors' veto and the power of the viceroy's Council would be still held.in reserve. )

The Government intended to provide, for a large representation of the ijindholding class and Mahomnicdaus and also to largely increase the number of members elected by the municipalities and district boards. The Viceroy's Council would be increased to contain sixty-two members, some of whom would be efveted by special classes, but a permanent ollicial majority would be maintained. 1 .Special communities and interests ought to be represented on the Council. Kesolutions moved by unofficial members of the Council dealing with general administrative questions could be submitted to the Government ill the form of recommendations. Similar recommendations affecting the Budget would be considered. i The; Government also desired to vivify I local and district boards, thereby training the people to manage local affairs. Executive councils would be established elsewhere than at Madras and Bombay.

.Mr. Buchanan claimed that this was a real stop forward to meet the political aspirations of honest reformers. While British supremacy would be maintained unchallenged, Indiana would he educated to administrative work in the school of experience, it was important that these reforms should appear ak n spontaneous gift, of Britain to the nation to popularise-.the government of India. No discussion on the proposed reforms took place in the Commons.

PRESS OPINIONS. ■ London, December 18.,' The Times welcomes the general c)ia|r-. actor of the proposed reforms, especially the decision to increase 1 the strength of the Legislative Councils, but gravely doubts the expediencfi of reforms affecting the composition and vigor of the local and centrtA executives.

The Standard says the proposed reforms will not appease the extremist section of Indian home rulers, winlo die moderates will only regard them as a partial concession of their demands. Nevertheless it is a spirited attempt to solv.e the. tremendous problem. The Daily Nows says the ; scheme is incomplete, but will help liritain to regain the moral strength and influence which she has been losing f >i- the past ten years. The Telegraph is neither pessimistic nor sanguine, but expectant. Certainly, this paper says, the utmost has been conceded which the present circumstances admit. I The Chronicle declares it is a great scheme.

GRATIFICATION IN INDIA. Received 20, 8.7 p.in. Calcutta, December 10. Responsible Indians welcome the reforms almost with enthusiasm. The official world regard the scheme as going further than anticipated, but in view of Lord Morley's insistence on a permanent official majority in the ViceRegal Council they accept the conccs-1 sio-ns to the provincial councils without ; misgivings, & beading (Bengalis describe the reforms as generous. The native papers generally welcome the reforms.) The Benafclee] newspaper looks for moi|c conccssiAs. NEWSPAPER PROPERTY SEIZED. Revived 20, 8.7 p.m. i Calcutta, December lit. The editorial manuscripts and machinery of the vernacular ■newspaper named "Revolution" were seized at Lahore.