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The former is entirely for Mussalmans and the latter mostly for Sikhs, Dogras and Punjabi Hindus. We hope to have something like 300 boys at each of these schools. At present-they were only established last autumn-we have about 80 boys varying from 10 to 15 years of age. The orphans are admitted free; others we charge Rs. 7-8-0 a month, and we provide them with free uniform, free clothing and bedding and free food. In my round of the schools I was delighted with what I saw. I do not think you would wish to come across a more delightful, well set-up, happy lot of boys, sharp, intelligent children who would do credit to anybody and warm any soldier's heart or any father's heart to see. If Honourable Members will do us the honour of visiting those schools, I can assure them we shall welcome them gladly, and welcome any criticisms they may have to make in regard to them."

In last year's report an account was given of the Indian Territorial Force including a précis of the recommendations of the Auxiliary and Territorial Forces Committee of 1924. The Government of India found it necessary to consult local Governments on the subject of these recommendations. The local Governments took very great interest in these and went into them with great care, making valuable criticisms and furnishing valuable material. Their replies have been considered by the Government of India whose recommendations on the committee's report, have been sent to the Secretary of State. Whilst on the subject of the Territorial Force it is interesting to notice that certain of its units have already had a foretaste of active service. These were doing their annual training near Rawalpindi when the Hassan-Abdal dacoity which has been already mentioned, took place, and a number of territorial soldiers were at once rushed to the scene of the dacoity to take part in the pursuit of the trans-border gang.

The process of Indianizing the Indian Army, which was described in last year's report, has been carried still further during the year under review. Some time ago, the Government of India decided to reserve 20 appointments in the Cantonments Department, i.e., approximately 50 per cent. of the appointments of Executive Officers, for officers holding Viceroy's Commissions in the regular Indian Army or in the Indian Territorial Force. The remaining appoint

ments in the Cantonments Department are open to British and Indian Officers holding the King's Commission and it is hoped that it will not be very long before the first King's Commissioned Indian: Officer joins the Department. Again, it has now been decided to admit Indian gentlemen to the Army in India Reserve of Officers. The terms and conditions of service for the Reserve which were laid down immediately after the war have hitherto not proved sufficiently attractive, but a new set of terms and conditions applicable to both British and Indian candidates have recently been appeared which will, it is hoped, have the desired result. Proposals, again, have been worked out for the employment of Indians as King's Commissioned Officers in the Indian Army. Veterinary Corps and approved by the Secretary of State. At present there is no institution in India, private or otherwise, which teaches up to the standard of veterinary science required, but the Government of India have framed proposals for overcoming this difficulty and there is no reason to suppose that these will not be successful.

Reference must be made here to the Indian Ordnance Factories in which very valuable national and educational work is being carried on. The Civil Mechanical Engineering appointments in the Ordnance Factories are, of course, open to Indians, but hitherto a great difficulty has been experienced in getting suitable candidates for these appointments. A number of Indian boys go to England and acquire the necessary academic qualifications, but afterwards. they find it impossible to get the necessary workshop experience in Industrial firms, either in England or in India. In order to get over these difficulties the Government of India recently sanctioned an experiment which has great possibilities. They created an appointment of Probationary Assistant Works Manager at one of the Indian Ordnance Factories, to which they appointed an Indian gentleman. It is greatly to be hoped that this experiment will lead to much greater developments in the future.

The proposals for the new Indian Navy have already been described. In his speech in the Legislative Assembly on the 4th March 1926 Field Marshal Sir William Birdwood warned the members that the implementing of these proposals would necessarily occupy much time and require much determination from the people of India. He pointed out that on the Western and Eastern coasts of India there existed admirable material for the new Navy in the

large number of seafaring men, who, both in the Indian marine and in the mercantile service, have proved themselves to be staunch, brave and skilful sailors. That there will be no lack of eagerness among these men for service in the Indian Navy was shown by the scenes of enthusiasm which marked the visit of His Excellency Rear Admiral W. M. Ellerton, C.B., R.N., Commander-in-Chief, His Majesty's Ships and Vessels, East Indies Station to Jaigad on the Bombay coast where the seafaring Mohammedan population has supplied ratings for the Royal Indian Marine for many generations. Over 80 Naval and Indian Marine Pensioners with the headmen of the local villages and some 200 R.I.M. ratings with their families were received by the Naval Commander-in-Chief on board his flagship and presented an address to which the Commander-in-Chief replied as follows:

"It is particularly interesting to me to visit Jaigad and to meet so many pensioners of the Royal Indian Marine. The Royal Indian Marine has recruited its personnel from this district from time immemorial and has been well and truly served. I understand from the Director of the Royal Indian Marine that the conduct of the Indian crews of the Royal Indian Marine ships has always been uniformly good, and that the men recruited from your district have served most loyally and faithfully for many generations. This is a record of which to be proud, and gives me confidence that you and your sons will not fail in the future to uphold the standard which will be required of you when the Royal Indian Navy is established.

The Royal Indian Navy will have the great privilege of flying the White Ensign. You and your sons in future will be admitted to the great brotherhood of those who are so proud to serve under that glorious old Flag. It is a privilege of which we are very jealous and very proud. See to it that you uphold the great traditions attached to it. Your records of loyal service for so many years in the Royal Indian Marine encourages us to welcome you as worthy additions to the service of which we are so proud. We are all glad to admit you, and extend to you a cordial hand of welcome."

In the evening the Commander-in-Chief with the Director of the Royal Indian Marine and a large number of Royal Navy and Royal Indian Marine officers landed at Jaigad when they were received by the Collector of the Ratnagiri district who entertained the party together with the pensioners, headmen, and families of Royal Indian Marine ratings, at a tea party held within the ancient Mahratta Fort which was suitably decorated for the occasion.

CHAPTER VII.

The State and the People.

In Chapter V we considered some of the activities of the Local Governments which bear directly on the welfare of their people. The list of such activities contained therein is, however, not complete. Provincial Governments in India are also concerned with the improvement and development of industries and with agriculture, irrigation and forests, all of which have very obvious and direct bearings on the welfare of their people. It is proposed to consider the three latter of these activities in this chapter, which deals primarily with the Government of India in certain of its relations with its people, because they are all technical departments of Government activity, and their development, therefore, depends more on technical considerations than on the idiosyncrasies of provincial circumstances. They are all subjects, moreover, with which the Central Government is directly concerned to a greater or lesser degree. Certain other departments of the Government of India's activities, which are directed towards the welfare and uplift of the people of India, will also be discussed here. Such are its emigration, opium, excise, medical and sanitary policies, and its work in improving the conditions of Indian labour.

The many problems raised by the emigration of Indians overseas are all overshadowed at the moment by the supreme problem of Indians in South Africa which has already been discussed in detail. Generally speaking, elsewhere very little of outstanding importance or interest has occurred during the year under review. It is particularly satisfactory to report that in Australia all resident British Indians have been granted the Commonwealth Franchise by the passing of the Commonwealth Electoral Act No. 20 of 1925. Thus, despite the delicate situation which still exists in regard to the position of Indians in South Africa, it may be said that with the latter's agreement to a conference between her representatives and representatives of the Indian Government, and the passing of the Australian Electoral Act, the year has seen a promising development in the relations between India and the Self-Governing dominions.

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