§ 1. Mr. THORNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House any information in connection with the jute mill strike in the Barrackpore district of Calcutta; whether he can state the cause of the strike; whether a settlement has been reached; and, if so, what concessions have been made?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Butler)When the working hours agreement of the Indian Jute Mills Association expired at the end 1326 of March, a number of mills started to work 50 hours instead of 40 hours a week. Most mills increased wages proportionately, but some did not, and the employés of these struck, some 25,000 being out by 14th April. By 18th April, work had been resumed in some of the mills, and by the 30th, work was normal in all except one, in which the strike did not begin till the 20th. I understand the conditions of resumption were not uniform. One group of mills have brought their wages into line with those of neighbouring mills; in others, the resumption was unconditional.