§ 4. Mr. DAVID GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for India if he will give information in regard to the present situation in the rebellious districts in Burma and as to the progress that is being made in preparation for the forthcoming elections in Burma?
§ Sir S. HOAREAs regards the rebellion, the situation has continued satisfactory. A number of surrenders has followed that of Myat Aung, the Tharrawaddy leader, and it is hoped that it will shortly be possible to say that the rebellion is at an end. It will, however, be necessary to retain a considerable number of additional police for some time as crime is still abnormally prevalent. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that the necessary action is being taken in preparation for the elections to be held in the autumn.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSMay we assume that the position is distinctly better than it was 12 months ago?
§ Sir S. HOAREYes, Sir, certainly.
§ 14. Mr. MORGAN JONESasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that one of the qualifications for voters in Burma is payment of at least five rupees as thathamedi or capitation tax, any provision has been made by the Government in Burma that, in amending the present electoral rolls, the reduction of the above taxes by 25 per cent as a temporary relief measure will not affect the qualification of voters and deprive a large section of the population of their right to vote?
§ Sir S. HOAREThe temporary reduction of these taxes will not disqualify anyone previously entitled to vote.
§ 15. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that the present electoral rolls in Burma were prepared at a time when active rebellion was widespread in districts having a large qualified electoral population, and in view of the important constitutional issues to be decided by the forthcoming elections in Burma, wider facilities for the amendment of the present electoral rolls will be given than those provided for in the Burma Government's notification dated 7th May; and whether, in view of the fact that the provision made in the notification permitting qualified voters wishing to amend the electoral rolls to apply to the headquarters of the enrolling officers is not adequate, as both distance and expense make these headquarters inaccessible to many qualified voters in the villages, arrangements can be made to enable voters in the villages and elsewhere to scrutinise the rolls at the offices of the village headmen and of other officials whose headquarters are of easy access to local voters?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am informed that very full material was available to enrolling officers when the new electoral rolls were prepared last year and all those who were known to possess the qualification were included, however occupied at the time. The Government of Burma and I are satisfied that it is unnecessary to provide wider facilities for amendments to the rolls than those they have already announced. They are also satisfied that existing arrangements afford adequate facilities to voters in villages to scrutinise the rolls.