The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1911. HOME RULE FOR INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 179, 27 January 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1911. HOME RULE FOR INDIA.

When the King announced with startling suddenness at Delhi that the capital of the country was to be removed from Calcutta to historic Delhi, the effect was more stupendous than any other statement he could possibly have made. Although we had to assume that this was the first intimation of the intention of the British Government, it is very cer tain that the native rulers had been long aware that a change was pending The obvious intention of the Imperial Government in changing the capital was by way of promise to the ordinarily ambitious people of the great Empire that they would at some future time have a freer hand in the control of their own vast interests, social and economic. It is in accordance with finest British traditions that Britain should teach subject people the art of government by assuming government, and to then permit the pupils to carry on with a certain degree of freedom. While Britishers at a distance might naturally regard the change as an incident expressly designed to please the native rulers and the gigantic populace, it really marked the beginning of a new epoch. Britain in her foreign policy, outlined in Sir E. Grey's memorable speech, has already shown that she has more territory than ihe can be absolutely responsible for. The weight of government is very lieavv, British interests, obligations and dangers tremendous, and antipathy to Britain, because of her success, most sinister. Any aid, therefore, that Britain can call in order to relieve her of these enormous responsibilities, strengthens her in her fight for the maintenance of a world supremacy. After the Durbar, which began the new epoch, the Viceroy of India despatched to the Secretary of State for India a message vividly illustrating the possible intentions of the Government. "It is certain," wrote the Viceroy, "that in the course of time the just demands of Indians for a larger

share in the government of the country will have to be satisfied, and the ques' tion will be how this devolution of powei can be conceded without impairing the supreme authority of the Governor-Gen-eral-in-Council. The only possible solution of the difficulty would appear to be to be gradually to give the provinces a larger measure of self-government, until at last India would consist of a number of administrations, autonomous in all provincial affairs, with the Government j of India above them all and possessing power to interfere in cases of misgovernment, but ordinarily restricting its functions to matters of Imperial concern." It has not yet been definitely decided whether Indians generally, who possess gifts, many of which are more remarkable than those possessed by their most eminent white fellow subjects, are capable of just and able self-government. The British Raj has always benevolently interfered with those ancient customs, which, according to our ideas, are wrong and wicked, and the fight has been such a successful one that the people have been wonderfully influenced for change. Under British administration, the terrible scourges which aforetime swept India have been reduced in virulence, and science has been responsible for saving tens of thousands of lives, while it has, on the other hand, greatly increased the means for the l production of foodstuffs. The appalling increases in population, which have no parallel in Europe or in the colonies of European Powers, means that the responsibility of the British Raj and of the native rulers increase every year. Indians of high caste have & habit of being educated not only at Eng. lish Universities, but at American and German ones, so that this influence, together with the continual influence of the British people, both military and civil, have changed the thoughts and aspirations of many Indians. We have seen that the British Army makes magnificent soldiers from natives, and we know that British universities, handling such promising material as Indians' of high intellect, can give India men of the country equal in capacity to those of the dominant race. In fact, the whole influence of the British in India has been towards educating the people in the ideas of good government, and to help them in assuming duties they would be incapable of but for this education. Perhaps the chief marvel in Britain's amazing success in holding and improving' India is that (unquestionably taught by the Mutiny) she has never, except on some trifling occasions since that terrible time, offended the religious susceptibilities of the people, or interfered in the intricate matter of caste. Because of her firm yet benevolent grip, Britain has succeeded where probably no other nation could have done. Having assured India by acts that British government is wholly good, Britain is prepared to stand aside somewhat in order to see how her pupils shape in the conduct of their own affairs. The supremacy of the Indian Government will not be impaired, but it is likely to become an impartial umpire rather than the sole executive.