Shorter Notices
The Legislatures of Ceylon, 1928-1948. By S. Namasivayam. (Faber. 18s.)
IN pursuit of colonial political advancement the British Government can draw upon Ceylon experience for object lessons more encouraging than those provided by the Indian sub-continent, which was partitioned some six months before the neighbouring island was freed from Whitehall control. The leaders of the first Asiap-colony to become a Dominion adhered to strictly constitutional means. No civil disobedience or terrorism and no imprisonment of leaders darkened the successive stages. There were minority problems, but political freedom came without the sombre accompaniment of mass communal murder and the migra- tion of vast numbers of panic-stricken refugees. It follows that in the competent hands of Mr. Namasivayam, a member of the Tamil minority, this survey of the stages of development and account of the present constitution is of special value. It is included in the Studies of Colonial Legis- latures planned by Nuffield College under the skilled editorship of Miss Margery Perham, for whose advice, criticism and constructive ideas the authbr makes warm acknowledgement. The study mostly consists of a description of the Donough- more Constitution, which was in operation for 17 years and provided for universal suffrage and dyarchy. The administration was in the hands of the Governor, aided by a State Council which dealt with administra- tive as well as legislative matters, with groups of departments in charge of seven popularly elected Ministers and three Officers of State. This experiment contri- buted much to the political experience which paved the way to Dominionhood. The fact that since then, in marked contrast to India and Pakistan, Ceylon politics have seldom figured in our newspapers is in itself a testimony to the smooth working of the Constitution under the statesmanlike guidance of the. Prime Minister, Mr.
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