§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Under Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that it is the custom of Indian railway companies owned or controlled by the Government of India frequently to delay paying wages for periods of two and three weeks, with the result that the workers are driven into the hands of moneylenders who charge extortionate rates of interest; whether these same railway authorities continue the practice of fining their employés for various offences and often dismiss servants without granting an inquiry or a certificate of character, and thus prevent the dismissed servants obtaining employment; and what steps the Government of India propose to take to remedy these grievances?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have ascertained from the Indian railway companies referred to that while, owing to the distances to be travelled by the pay clerks, it is not possible to pay the wages of the whole of the staff on the first day of a month, payment is practically always made at regular monthly intervals, so that there should be no need on this account for any employé to have recourse to moneylenders. It is considered necessary in the interests of discipline and efficiency to continue the practice of fining employés for certain offences, but the fines are generally small, and they are set aside for expenditure on schemes for the benefit of the staff. Employés are not dismissed without proper inquiry;60W they always have the right of appeal to higher authority, and in no case is a request for a certificate of character refused.
§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Under-Secretary- of State for India whether he is aware that the Indian railways under the control of, or owned by, the Government are so understaffed that men are often exhausted by the large amount of overtime they are compelled to work, and consequently suffer long periods of illness; that great dissatisfaction exists amongst the Indian workers owing to the fact that preferential treatment is given to young men from England, and that there is a general discrimination against Indians in favour of Europeans; that on occasion, as a means of punishment, grants from provident funds and earned gratuities are withheld; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy these grievances?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have no reason to believe that Indian railway employés are required to work an undue amount of overtime, or that any preference is given to Europeans as such over Indians. It is the fact that in cases of serious misconduct or markedly unsatisfactory service the whole or part of a man's provident fund bonus and gratuity may be withheld; but I do not regard this as constituting a legitimate ground of grievance. I do not think any action is called for.