§ 67. Mr. THURTLE (for Mr. LANSBURY)asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has taken, or proposes to take, any steps to set up an independent tribunal to act as a board of arbitration and conciliation between Government employés and Government Departments employing such persons?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe Government of India have had the whole question of legislation in regard to industrial disputes under consideration and hope to introduce a Bill during the next Session of the Indian Legislature. My Noble Friend has not yet received from the Government of India the detailed proposals which they will place before the Legislature but he assumes that the Bill will deal with public utility companies. I may add that I have received informally information from an authoritative source that considerable progress is being made on the railways for dealing with matters in dispute between the management and the workers, which aims, generally speaking, at the formation of committees of representatives of the men and of the management for the periodical discussion of matters relating to conditions of work and welfare. Owing to the varying conditions in different parts of India no uniform organisation has been found possible and methods suited to local circumstances and tradition are being gradually evolved. My Noble Friend, however, has not yet received an official report on the system.