EMPIRE 349

contain a block of members appointed by the Princes, and
representing, therefore, not the peoples of India, but a small
wealthy class. By the Federal plan, the British Government is
not so much extending self-Government to India, as sharing,
with the wealthier Indians, its power over the masses. This is
the more important as India's chief need is legislation to improve
the working and living conditions of the majority of her people.
It is, of course, true that the British Government neither could
nor would attempt to coerce the Princes into surrendering any
of their powers, and if they were to be drawn into the Federation
at all, it could only be by granting them great influence in it,
It may prove that their support has been secured at the price of
obstructing future social legislation*

In this connection, the distribution of powers between the
Federation and the Provinces should be noticed. The Federation
alone will have power tp deal with defence, foreign affairs,
currency, the postal service, labour conditions in mines and
oilfields, the main railways (for which a Federal Railway Authority
is set up), sea and air transport, commercial law, maritime
shipping, the greater part of customs and excise regulation, and
the salt tax, which is a considerable source of revenue, and
affects the whole population. The Provinces alone have power
over internal order, communications and water supplies,
education, economic development, direct taxation, and the
control of trade in alcohol and drugs. Over civil and criminal
law, and the all-important question of labour conditions, both
Federation and Provinces have power, and where the laws which
they make conflict, it will be the Federal law which will prevail.
While this distribution would in itself be satisfactory, it has to
be interpreted in the light of the criticisms to which the Federal
legislature is liable.

The Provinces. At present, pending the establishment of the
Federation, interest is concentrated on the Provinces, to which
the 1935 Act gives a greater measure of independence from the
centre than they have previously enjoyed. British India is divided