§ 1. Colonel Sir CHARLES YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, considering that Brahmins have hitherto been nominated to represent Indian labour at the International Labour Conference at Geneva, the Secretary of State will now consult the Government of India, with a view to the appointment of members of the backward and working-classes of India to represent labour at the next conference?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Richards)As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, the discretion of Government in nominating the workers' delegate at the International Labour Conference is not unfettered, as under Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles the delegate must be chosen in agreement with the organisations most representative of the workers, if such organisations exist. In India, before a nomination is made representative organisations are consulted. As a matter of fact, however, the workers of India were represented by non-Brahmins in 1920 and 1923, and this will also be the case at this year's Conference. In 1919, 1921 and 1922 the workers' delegate was Mr. Joshi, of the Servants of India Society.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether the workers' organisations in India are, for the most part, considered illegal by the Government of India?
§ Mr. RICHARDSNo.
§ Sir C. YATEWho is representing them this year?
§ Mr. RICHARDSJoseph Baptista.
§ Sir C. YATEWhere does he come from? Is it Bombay?
§ Mr. RICHARDSBombay, I think.
§ Sir C. YATEWhat nationality?