THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1908. REFORM FOR INDIA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3081, 31 December 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1908. REFORM FOR INDIA.

It is probable that the enthusiastic welcome which has been accorded in India to the scheme of reform outlined in the Imperial Parliament indicates an impression that the scheme, generous though it is, may be regarded as only an instalment. Seeing thatthe British Government proposes to materially increase the native representation, not only in the Viceroy's Council, but also in the Legislative Councils, which sit in conjunction with the provincial Governors, it is reasonable to assume that there is a deliberate intention to

give the natives a substantial share J both in administration and in legis- ] lation. But aa the parliamentary : spokesmen of the British Govern- ; ment have expressly explained that the Viceroy is to be supported by a permanent official majority and that all measures adopted by the provincial Legislative Councils may be vetoed by the Viceroy-in-Council, the actual amount of power confided to the Indian peoples is somewhat shadowy. In fact, it would appear that,new possibilities of friction may be introduced by a system which ostensibly concedes to the Indian peoples a voice in administration and legislation, noc only in the Legi slative Councils of the provinces, but also in the Viceroy's Council at Calcutta, yet at the same time nullifies the power of the native representatives by providing that all enactments originating either in the provincial Legislative Councils or among the unofficial members of the Viceroy's Council may be rejected by a permanent official majority supporting the Viceroy. The new system must inevitably leave the Viceroy still supreme, although the machinery of government will be greatly complicated by the concession of a spacious appearance of real political power to the native representatives. Seeing that Lord Morley frankly stated that he would have nothing to do with the proposed reforms if he thought that they would lead necessarily to the establishment of a parliamentary system, it is clear i that there is no intention at present to concede even a measure of effective self-government to th 3 peoples of India. The parliamentary system is the only system that has yet been devised by which effective self-government can be carried on. And even the measure of local government, which in all that is granted by the enlargement of the provincial Legislative Councils, is to be specially retained within the ambit of the Viceroy's authority, and made subject to his veto. At the same time, in the actual working of the scheme it is probable that the increased native representation would translate native ideals into actuality to a very considerable extent, since the Viceroy in all likelihood would not lightly veto a measure or a regulation that had received the sanction not only of the provincial Legislative Council, but also of the provincial Governor or Lieutenant-Governor. It remains to be seen whether this instalment of political power will satisfy the enormous appetite which successive national congresses have developed in the Indian peoples for a substantial share in the work of government. Recent occurrences in India show that the conspiracy of the malcontents is more widely spread and of much greater growth than was suspected. Summary jurisdiction and administrative deportation of offenders, without forma! trial, are powers that the Government has not hesitated fo use, and these powers appear to have exercised a repressive effect. But it is to be feared that the discontent has penetrated too deeply and spread too tar among the people to be quickly curbed, even by the mo3t drastic administrative punishments.