"SIMPLY A PUPPET."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 3 December 1913, Page 5

"SIMPLY A PUPPET."

CABLE NEWS.

(United Preu Amciation— By Electric Telegraph — Copyright)-)

LORD GLADSTONE.

BIG MEETING OF INDIANS.

(Received December 2, 9.5 a.m.)

PIETERMARITZBURG, Dec. 1

A thousand Indians held at meeting in the Hindu Temple and passed a resolution requesting the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry regarding the alleged flogging of Indians. Leo Copaul asked which they placed the greater reliance on—the word of Lord Gladstone (the Govern-or-General) or that of the Hon. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, representative of non-official members of Bombay Legislature on the Viceroy's Legislative Council. The former was simply a puppet in the hands of General Smuts (Minister for Finance and Defence). The meeting concluded with three cheers for Mr Ghandhi (leader of the passive resistance movement), who is now in prison, and one for the King. DEPUTATION TO LORD CREWE. ("Received December 2, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 1. The All-Indian South African League sent a deputation to the Marquis of Crewe (Secretary of State for India), demanding an inquiry regarding the treatment of Indians in South Africa, and asking for the intervention of the Imperial Government, with a view to securing the rights of citizens for Indians throughout the Empire. Sir Mancherjee Bhownagree alluded to the brand of unfitness imposed upon Indians by certain British colonies. Lord Crewe admitted that the, material for inquiry existed, ancVasaid the Government was prepared to accept the result of Mr South's personal inquiries, but would welcome a ion-official investigation. In the interests of Imperial solidarity J precated anyone menacing South Africa. INQUIRIES MADE. (Received December 2,' 2 p.m.) PRETORIA, December 1. General. Smuts has returned after making inquiries! ;. ' /'■'■TJOEJ^N/'DeceiiiiberVl..;'' The Government continues to refuse to discuss "the Indians' '< grievances until order has been restored and the strike abandoned. . DUTY OF IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. POLL-TAX OF LITTLE USE.

(Received Last Night, 10.40 o'clock.) LONDON. December 2,.

Sir Mancherjee Bhownagree, Who introduced the deputation to: * Lord Crewe, said it was the Imperial Government's duty to mediate in connection with the trouble 'in Soutb Africa. '

The deputation asked for the rel§ase.of passive resisten*; the removal of any racial bar; and .the' aboli-. tion of the poll-tax on Indians by the South African Government. It contended, that though the laws were restrictive owing to. the demands of South African opinion, yet they had been so easily operated that no practical grievance existed'. Some minor officiate might he stupid and "red taped," and others so racially'prejudiced that they did not wish' .to administer the laws leniently. .The Indians had not claimed that South Africa ought to legalise polygamy, but polygamous communities demand,ed reasonable v consideration. India had been deeply stirred, and though every statement need not be adopted as proved facts, yet it was evident that grounds existed for serious disquiet. Mr Ghandi was a man of high ideals, but at.the same time the South African Ministers were honestly anxious to" see the laws humanely, administered. He was bound to add that the South African leaders were often hampered by the existence of a less enlightened public opinion. A sixty-shilling tax did not' bring in a large revenue, and it did not seem to serve any useful purpose. The stories of Hogging, he said, demanded an inquiry. ALLEGATIONS OP FLOGGING.

'Time*'—'Sydney Sun' Special Cabl4s. (Received Last Night, 6.20 o'clock.) JOHANNESBURG, December 2. At a meeting of Indians at Bosken Ritch, La&our members asserted that it was true that men had been flogged. They alleged that they had seen the marks on their bodies, and heard people in the mines admit that they had flogged Indians.