HC Deb 10 December 1945 vol 417 cc20-6
68. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Under-secretary of State for India if he is aware that in the amending of electoral rolls in Orissa, the factory owners are alone to supply the names of eligible factory workers; and if he will take other steps to secure the compilation of a true register.

Mr. A. Henderson

As my hon. Friend will be aware, one seat out of a total of 60 in the Orissa Legislative Assembly is reserved for a representative of Labour. In connection with the preparation of the electoral roll for this Labour constituency only, the electoral rules provide that the registering authority shall call upon factory or mine managers to supply the names of eligible workers employed in the factory or mine. In addition the elections officer is required to call upon every recognised trade union operating in the Province to supply a similar list of its members and officials who are qualified to be included in the roll. I have not received any information indicating that a true register is not being compiled.

Mr. Gallacher

Is not the Minister aware that there is very strong complaint about this matter of selecting representatives from the factories, and would it not be better to deal through the recognised trade union officials, or to get the shop stewards to deal with the matter instead of the managers?

Mr. Henderson

I have already said that I have not received any complaints, and I refer the hon. Member to the fact that, in my answer, I said that we do utilise the activities of trade union officials.

Mr. Gallacher

But is the Minister aware that, according to cables received here, it is the managers who select the representatives, and that that is a very undesirable state of affairs?

Mr. Henderson

Nevertheless, it is the law.

Mr. Gallacher

But cannot we change the law?

Mr. Mikardo

Can the Minister tell us what proportion of the names included in the trade union list does not appear on the list compiled by the factory managers?

71. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Under-secretary of State for India what are the arrangements for allowing the different parties in India to broadcast their policies during the elections.

Mr. A. Henderson

No arrangements have been made to allow the different parties in India to broadcast their policies during the elections.

Mr. Sorensen

Why is this, seeing that this country benefited by the broadcasts made in this country?

Mr. Henderson

I am informed by the Government of India that an attempt to grant equal facilities to all parties in India to broadcast their full policies would be attended with great difficulties.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

Is it not a fact that not more than one family in 90 has a wireless set in India, so who on earth would listen to it if we did broadcast?

Mr. Sorensen

Does my hon. and learned Friend appreciate that broadcasting even to the 30,000,000 electors in India would be of great value, and as we overcame the difficulty in regard to small parties in this country, could it not be done over there?

Mr. Henderson

I do not think the setup of political parties in India is quite as easy a matter as it is in this country.

73. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Under-secretary of State for India if he is aware that in the Punjab the announcement regarding the revision of electoral rolls was made in the Press on 29th September, 1945; that the names of the offices where applications were to be made was announced in Lahore on 3rd October, 1945; that such announcement was not made outside Lahore until a later date; that the announcement was by news-item only and not by beat of drums or poster; and that the last date for applications for names to be placed on the register was fixed for 9th October, 1945; whether he is satisfied that the register compiled in these circumstances is a correct register of those entitled to vote; and what steps he will take to cause a further register to be properly compiled in the Punjab before the forthcoming elections.

Mr. A. Henderson

I have no information on the points raised by the hon. Member and the Governor of the Punjab is being asked for a report. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as this report is available.

Mr. Gallacher

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that, as many of these electors are illiterate, a news-item is of no value so far as providing information about the election is concerned, and was there any arrangement of any kind made to get a Parliamentary delegation from Yugoslavia to visit India to see that the election is conducted fairly?

74. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Under-secretary of State for India if he is aware that in Sind Province every application for inclusion on the electoral register has to pass through a judicial inquiry by a subordinate judge for final disposal; and whether this is compatible with the conduct of free elections.

Mr. A. Henderson

Applications for inclusion on the Sind electoral register do not have to pass through a judicial inquiry by a subordinate judge for final disposal as suggested in my hon. Friend's Question. It is only at a later stage that any claims or objections that might be submitted have to be disposed of by the revising authorities, who are subordinate judges, except in Karachi, where the revising authority is the judge of the Small Causes Court.

Mr. Gallacher

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that in this matter also there have been many serious protests; and in view of the fact that under Tory rule the Indians were more accustomed to bullets than to ballots, will he make it as easy as possible to enable people to ballot?

Mr. Henderson

If my hon. Friend will give me any particulars as to when the law has not been carried out, I will certainly look into them.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Is the hon. Gentle man who put that supplementary question aware that prominent Members on this side of the House were members of the Indian Franchise Committee which framed the franchise upon which—

Mr. Bowles

On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. Is it in Order for the right hon. Gentleman to ask a question of the hon. Gentleman across the Floor of the House?

Mr. Gallacher

I do not mind if I can answer it.

75. Mr. Piratin

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that in the Punjab illiterate voters have to state, in the presence of the election officer and the agents of all the candidates, for whom they wish to vote; and whether any steps will be taken to obviate this violation of the principle of secret ballot.

Mr. A. Henderson

It is not the case that illiterate voters in the Punjab are compelled to act in the manner suggested. The relevant Punjab Electoral rule provides that, if any elector is, by reason of illiteracy or infirmity, unable to vote in the ordinary way, the presiding officer shall, at his request, and in the view of any polling agents representing the candidates who are present, make a cross on the ballot paper according to the direction of the elector and shall cause the ballot paper so marked to be placed in the ballot box.

Mr. Piratin

I am not quite clear whether I heard the beginning of that answer, in view of the talk which is going on here, but I would ask my hon. and learned Friend whether he agrees that the state of affairs as outlined in my Question exists, and is authorised to exist by the law to which he referred earlier?

Mr. Henderson

No. Sir, on the contrary, I said just the opposite. I said it is not the case that illiterate voters in the Punjab are compelled to act in the manner suggested. I then quoted the rule, but if my hon. Friend has any information showing that the rule is not being observed, I will look into it.

Major Wyatt

But is it not a fact that the illiterate voter in the Punjab has to indicate on the paper where his X is to be placed, and the names of the candidates are visible to the agents and to the presiding officer, so, therefore, substantially the facts suggested in the Question are accurate?

Mr. Henderson

No, Sir. Unless the elector makes the request, the presiding officer does not take the action suggested.

Major Wyatt

Does that mean that he does not vote unless he makes a request?

Mr. Henderson

That is for the electors.

76. Mr. Piratin

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware that in the recent provision of the electoral rolls in the Punjab, a 12-anna revenue stamp was required to be affixed to each application for registration; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this state of affairs.

Mr. A. Henderson

In view of the limited time available to bring the electoral rolls up to date for the forthcoming elections, the Governor of the Punjab made rules under which the rolls are levised on the basis of applications from the individuals affected. A fee of 12 annas was imposed under these rules to discourage frivolous applications, which could not have been dealt with in the time available. No action could now be taken by the Governor to change this system as the elections are due to begin soon and must be completed by the end of February.

Mr. Piratin

Would my hon. and learned Friend say whether that particular Regulation made by the Governor is also allowed to him by the rule to which my hon. and learned Friend referred earlier, and whether he agrees with it?

Mr. Henderson

I am not concerned to express my agreement; I am here to indicate the facts in reply to my hon. Friend's Question. All I can say is that the rule to which he refers was made by the Governor in his own judgment, and is therefore well within his constitutional powers.

Mr. Sorensen

Is there any other Province where the same principle operates?

Mr. Henderson

No, Sir.

Mr. Sorensen

Then does it not seem to be rather an anomalous position, to which the attention of the Viceroy should be drawn?

Mr. Henderson

I can draw the attention of the Governor to this, but I am afraid it is now too late for him to do anything about it.

Sir P. Hannon

rose—

Mr. Speaker

I must point out that this House is not responsible for everything which the Governors in India do; they are responsible on their own account for their actions.

77. Mr. Piratin

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he is aware of the fact that the election campaign amongst the workers of Jamshedpur is seriously handicapped by the fact that since 1940 no less than 30 of their leaders have been expelled from Jamshedpur, and will he take steps to advise the Bihar Provincial Government that these expulsion orders arc incompatible with the holding of free elections.

Mr. A. Henderson

I have no information on this matter but am making inquiries. I will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

Sir P. Hannon

May I ask the Under-secretary of State for India if he has any information as to the time which the gentlemen who arc asking these Questions have been in India?

Major Wyatt

Is the Under-Secretary aware that I was in India until last May, and that I, also, have been asking Questions?

Mr. Piratin

Is the Under-Secretary aware, following the supplementary question raised by the hon. Gentleman opposite, that I am as much entitled to speak about India as he is entitled to speak about the working-class? In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the several replies given to myself and to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) to the series of Questions which we have been asking, I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment on an early occasion.