INDIA
FIRST MEETING OF COUNCIL. VICEROY'S IMPRESSIVE ADDRESS. EMIGRATION OP INDENTURED ' LABOR. Delhi, Feb. 8. -iOrd Chelmsford presided at the first meeting of the Imperial Legislative Council for the winter session. In a lengthy and impressive speech he urged members to avoid controversial questions and concentrate their energies on assisting the Empire to achieve victor}'. Regarding the abolition of the system of emigration of indentured labor, the Viceroy emphatically declared that neither the Government of -India nor the Secretary of State would depart from Lord'Hardinge's pledges, but the abolition required much inquiry and investigation in order to guard against a bad system being succeeded by a worse. A special mission had been sent to Ceylon and the Malay States, and its report was expected at the end of February. It was intended that a conference of representatives of Indian and colonial interests should meet in London .in May to formulate a scheme acceptable to both parties. The Colonial Office wholeheartedly accepted the decision that the present form of emigration must tease so far as the colonics were concerned and was showing the utmost readiness to cooperate to Tcmove the objectionable features. The Government of India would presently undertake whatever legislation was necessary in a wholly sympathetic spirit. The Government intended to deal expeditiously with the Public Service Commission's report, including the question of the increased employment of Indiana in the higher branches of the service.
MILITARY SERVICE OF EUROPEANS Referring to the recent ordinance for the registration of European males from 18 to 50, he said the time had arrived for India to release for service in the field the British units which would otherwise be employed on garrison duty. It \«s proposed to introduce a Bill whereby all European British subjects from 18 i,o !0 would be liable for general military service in India, those from 41 to CO should'be compulsorily enrolled for local military service, and youths from 10 to 18 for military training. It was also proposed to enrol Indians in their own Wilts for general military service in India for the duration of the war within si.\' 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 Mesopttamian campaign would be known in future. Persia remained benevolently neutral, Siam had crashed the endeavors of our enemies and the Amir of Afgnaislan had steadfastly upheld his neutrality.
Referring to the enormous importance of the three representatives cnosen »k attend the Dominions Conference he said it marked a new chapter in India's histoiy. He was confident they would establish India's claim to retain at tne Council of Empire the place won by the loyalty of the people and the gallantry of her soldiers.
RUSSIA. AN. IMPORTANT SYNDICATE. JOE CONSTRUCTING SHIPS AND DOCKYARDS. Petrograd, Feb. 8. A group of financiers is forming a company to create an important merchant fleet and construct several naval dockyards. A special committee under the President of the Council and Ministers will •name the project ITALY MOTHER ALLIED CONFERENCE. Rome, Feb. S. A second Allied Conference has been airanged at Rome for April. Portugal .will attend.
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Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1917, Page 5
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527INDIA Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1917, Page 5
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