The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 80
80 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN I knew what the Viceroy's decision was going to be, so I was perfectly happy over it. I said, "Very good. I agree," and the others said, "Very well, we agree. " The next morning, a paper was circulated that the Viceroy, after having considered the matter, had decided that no change should take place in the portfolios till after his successor had time to look round and it would be for him to make proposals to his colleagues. But it was proposed, as I had already suggested myself to the Viceroy, that Sir N. N. Sarkar, who was Law Member, should take over the amendment and consolidation of Company Law and Insurance Law, which were two big matters pending within my portfolio. That would keep him occupied fairly heavily. Question : But how were the other disputes resolved within the Viceroy's Council ? Khan : If you mean with regard to this change of portfolio, what had actually happened was that the Viceroy had sent for me and had said, now that Sir Frank Noyce was about to proceed on leave, he was anxious that this matter should be settled one way or the other before he left for England, and therefore it was proposed to put it on the agenda of the next Council meeting. He asked me what my reactions would be. I told him that my reactions would still be the same as they were before I had joined the Cabinet, but that I was willing to suggest a compromise and if it appealed to him, he could perhaps take action accordingly. Lord Willingdon was always willing to consider any adjustment of a question which could be carried through by mutual agreement rather than by a decision one way or the other in favour or against something. He was eager to know what I had in mind. I proposed that things should continue as they were while he was Viceroy - he had another year to go - and that his successor, after he had taken over charge and had made himself familiar with everything could make any proposal as head of government, which was always open to the Viceroy to do with regard to redistribution of portfolios and that I would have no objection at all. One specific matter that I did propose was that as Sir N. N. Sarkar had said, which was perfectly true, that he had not enough to do, I was quite willing that he should take over the amendment and codification of Company Law and Insurance Law. These matters had been pending for some time; they were now ripe for action, they were both rather controversial subjects and I had not the time to devote as much attention