The Viceroy''s Speech

THE most important part of the proceedings was the Viceroy's closing speech. To begin with, His Excellency drew attention to the important change inaugurated during the session in the direction of giving the official members a larger share in the debate, a practice which he announced it to be his intention to develop as far as possible. The reference was, of course, to the freedom allowed to the official members in the discussions on two non-official resolutions to vote as they liked. The change  is one which public opinion had always favoured and often urged, and this for the very reasons for which His Excellency himself supported it in his speech. "It is undoubtedly a waste of man power and brain capacity," he said, "that we should place a number of distinguished officials on the Imperial Council and then refuse to avail ourselves of their knowledge and experience in our debates."