Fourth Despatch on Indian Constitutional Reform (Divisional of Functions)

giving the provinces the largest measure of independence legislative administrative and financial of the Government of India which is compatible with the due discharge by the latter of its own responsibilities." It thus becomes of importance to ascertain what the proper responsibilities of the Government of India in future will be. [...] The assent of the legislature would of itself be no'reason why the Government of India should allow a local Government's proposals to which it saw strong objection nor would the dissent of the legilature in any reserved subject be of itself a reason why the Governor General in Council should withhold his sanction to the provincial proposal ; but in either case the attitude of the legislature w [...] 23 of the memorandum attached to our despatch of March 22 1919 that the Governor shall have a discretionary power of reserving provin cial Bills for the assent of the Governor General : and to provide for the guidance of the Governor in the exercise of this power by the instrument of instructions. [...] The existing system of administration involves as you know the maintenance at the headquarters of the central Government of a BUM+ ber of inspecting or consulting officers whose advice particularly on the techncal side of the administration has in the past been' of the greatest value both to the Governor General in Council and to local Governments. [...] The function of these officers would be to inspect the operations of the transferred departments in the provinces and to report their conclusions to the Governor and Ministers as well as to the Government of India. and to produce as at present periodical reports which would be available to the general public.