PUBLIC WORKS. - "193

recently obtained in the Central Provinces in connection with the construction
 of the Kharung and Maniari reservoir canals in the Bilaspur
district. Here the department found difficulty in securing labour through
contractors to the extent necessary to complete the works, and in 1924-25
they started departmental recruiting. The numbers so employed in the
frst year were under 3,000 and rose steadily until about 10,000 persons
were employed departmentally in 1929 against 5,000 employed through
contractors. It was stated by the department that the work had been
carried out much more expeditiously at a lower cost and that labour
Was getting a bigger return than it would receive from contractors.
Advances were given to recruit labour from a distance and the department
 bore the losses which arose from defaults by those to whom advances
 had been given. Experience has shown, however, that labourers
are more ready to accept employment, departmentally than from a contractor,
 and the total loss in respect of advances does not seem to be
large. This district supplies labour to many industries, and we do not
Suggest that experience elsewhere will necessarily be similar, but we
recommend that the possibilities of the wider application of departmental
working should be considered by the Public Works Departments gene-~
rally. The system of employing labour through contractors on large works
8 one of very old standing, and, with the great changes in conditions in
recent years, we are by no means satisfied that its advantages are as great
a8 they were in the past.