HC Deb 24 March 1920 vol 127 cc383-4
3. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been drawn to the complaints in India that representatives of the Indian National Congress have been persistently excluded from the Committees appointed for purposes of investigation of public questions by the Government of India, for instance, the Hunter Committee and the recent Advisory Committee regarding Rules and Regulations to be framed under the Government of India Act, 1919; and whether he will take steps to ensure that this body is represented on such public Committees in future?

Mr. FISHER

The Secretary of State has seen these complaints in Indian newspapers. As regards the Hunter Committee, it was obviously necessary to select members who had not, as prominent adherents of the Congress had, already committed themselves to strong views on the points which required investigation.

As regards the Reforms Committees appointed in the Provinces, the Secretary of State has not full information on their composition. But the hon. Member is probably aware that the prevailing party in the National Congress being dissatisfied with the reforms, and having declared itself sceptical as to their sincerity and value, great numbers of Indian Liberal politicians who are desirous of obtaining the best results from the new system have left its ranks and formed a separate Congress of their own. It is probable, and the hon. Member will perhaps recognise that it would be reason- able, in appointing Committees to work out the details of changes consequent on the recent Act, to enlist the services of men who, while criticising certain features, have promised sincere co-operation in working the new system rather than those who have denounced the Act as unacceptable or unworkable.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Would it not be desirable that men of pronounced views, even if hostile to certain aspects of the present Government of India, should be on this Committee?

Mr. FISHER

My right hon. Friend is of opinion that the Hunter Committee in its composition should be a judicial body, and that it is undesirable to appoint on that Committee men who have taken a very strong line in public controversies.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

If this Hunter Committee is a judicial body it must be impartial, and why should not distinguished legal luminaries, even if they have pronounced views, be upon it?