OCCASIONAL NOTE

The progressive State of Travancore has just received a new constitution, so far as legislation is concerned, at all events. It has received, at the hands of His Highness the ruler, the lay-out, if the phrase beloved of Delhi may be adapted, of a new Legislative Council, to take the place of that which has been in existence for the past thirty years. The Maharaja of Travancore, as a Madras paper reminds us, is, and is likely to remain, an absolute sovereign. He is in a position to apply the famous saying of Louis XIV – “L’etat,c’est moi” – to himself without incurring the slightest imputation of exaggerating maters. The Legislative Council which was set up in the eighties was more or less a mere “bed of justice” – nor, to tell the truth, does the new constitution appear to make very much difference. The legislature is still left at the mercy of an official majority, nor has it any power to move resolutions. These reforms obviously lag a long way behind Mr. Montagu’s proposals, and if the new Travancore constitution represents the full measure of the enthusiasm for the MontaguChelmsford scheme voiced by the Princes’ Conference at Delhi last year, there would appear to be some danger of Their Highness parting company with the Moderates, to say nothing of the Extremists.

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PUNJAB UNIVERSITY

The Punjab Government is appointing a committee, including three Indian members of the Legislative Council and nine principals of colleges, in and out of Lahore, to discuss with the Director of Public Instruction and the Vice-Chancellor the application to the Punjab University of certain of the proposals of the Calcutta University Commission. The most important of the proposals which are suggested as applicable to the Punjab are, on the one hand, the removal of intermediate education from the sphere of the University to the control of a separate Board on which the University will have a majority, and on the other hand, a large extension of the teaching functions of the University, more particularly in connection with the honours schools and with postgraduate work. The Government is already considering the provision in 1920-21 of funds to enable the University to establish a strong School of Chemistry with a University professor and a University laboratory. PLAGUE IN INDIA SIMLA, SEPT 11 The plague report for the week ending on the 30th August states that there were 746 deaths against 1,043 seizures in the whole of India. Provincial figures are:- Bombay Presidency and Sind 223 deaths, Madras 77, Bihar and Orissa 5, United Provinces 20, Punjab 4, Burma 44, Central Provinces 108, Mysore 121, Hyderabad State 94, Central India 6. There is no rise in the total mortality over the figure recorded last week, but fresh infection is reported from one district in the United Provinces, one district in the Punjab, and one district in the Central Provinces. During the month of August 2,588 deaths were recorded against 5,083 in 1918, and a mean for 20 years of 12,340.

SENTENCED FOR OPIUM SMUGGLING

Mr. Salik, Police Magistrate, Alipore, disposed of a case in which a Chinaman named Jonn Sen, residing at Bentinck Street, was charged with having possessed a large quantity of contraband opium without a licence. One evening as the accused was passing along Watgunge Street, towards the Dockyard, a constable challenged him, and he began to run. The policeman gave chase and caught him and on searching him found a seer of opium wrapped round each of his legs. The magistrate found the accused guilty and sentenced him to two months’ rigorous imprisonment, and to pay a fine of Rs 100.

RE-EMPLOYED OFFICERS

SIMLA, SEPT 11

Intimation has been received from the Secretary of State for India that a Royal Warrant will be issued shortly under the terms of which officers re-employed during the war by the Government of India after retirement or resignation from the Indian Army or the Indian Medical Service, may be promoted under the time scale in force in the Indian Army and the Indian Medical Service, and may be permitted to count towards promotion all service which was reckoned for promotion previous to the retirement or resignation, as well as the ser vice rendered since reemployment. The Secretary of State has intimated further that this ruling will apply to officers who offered their services voluntarily as well as to officers who were compulsorily recalled.