§ Mr. FREEMANasked the Secretary of State for India (1) whether he is aware that an order, under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, has been served on Mr. Varadarajulu Naidu and seven of the employés of the Ambasamudram Textile Mill, Madras Province, prohibiting them from holding meetings in connection with a strike at the mill: and whether steps will be taken to have the order withdrawn with a view to securing that the dispute shall be a peaceful one;
(2) whether the Government of India is aware that Mr. Galletti, Indian Civil Service, a collector of the Ambasamudram district, Madras Province, has advised the men on strike at the Ambasamudram textile mills to form a trade union of their own without outsiders, notwithstanding the provisions of the Trades Union Act, 1926, permitting the association of outsiders with unions to the extent of half the number of members of the executive committee; and whether steps will be taken with a view to making the provisions of the Act known to the employés at this mill;
(3) whether the Government of India will consider the desirability of requesting the Madras Government to appoint a committee of inquiry or a board of conciliation under the Trades Disputes Act, 1929, with a view to investigating the causes of the present dispute at the Ambasamudram textile mill (Madras Province)?
§ Mr. BENNI have no information regarding the matters dealt with in these questions, which, of course, are within the discretion of the Government of Madras.