INTRODUCTION. 
The Political Outlook. 
The present time is not less exceptional in the political sphere. 
Our work in India has been carried on when political issues have loomed 
large, and, as we write, great constitutional changes are being considered. 
We are happy to record the fact that political controversies have not pre-, 
vented many who hold widely differing views in politics from co-operating 
with us for the benefit of labour ; and we have been able to frame the great 
majority of our recommendations without reference to possible changes 
in the constitution. The needs of labour are evident, and the methods we 
recommend for meeting those needs are largely independent of the nature 
of the government of the country. “The nation in every country dwells 
in the cottage ”, and the well-being of the people must be the primary 
concern of any government, whatever its form and composition. Our 
experience gives us the hope that in the India of the future the welfare of 
the workers will receive an increasing measure of wise thought and of 
generous action on the part of all who can influence their lives. : 
Diwan Chaman Lall desires to add that opinions must differ re- 
garding the conclusions to be drawn from the evidence and he regards the 
recommendations as the minimum which should be enforced without 
delay.