6

CHAPTER XXI.
areas, would go far to break down the prevailing system of taking advances
from the maistry at the time of recruitment. In view of their general
indebtedness, few workers can resist the immediate offer of money
in the hand or visualise the ultimate consequences to themselves of the
ready acceptance of such offers, We feel, however, that any system of
payment which, as we believe to be the case here, tends to encourage
rather than to discourage this habit is to be deprecated. Nor can we
approve a method of payment which precludes the worker from sending
home sums of money from time to time for the support of such depen-
dents as do not accompany him to the plantation. In discussing in-
debtedness we have made recommendations relating to the regular and
prompt payment of wages, the recovery of recruiting costs, including the
sost of transit, and restrictions on the recovery of advances. These are
intended also for application to plantation labour. They should be of
especial value in South Indian plantations in improving the independence,
sconomic position and bargaining power of the workers.
Note oN WaGE-FIXING MACHINERY IN Assam
BY SIR ALEXANDER MURRAY.

The question of wage-fixing machinery in Assam is discussed at
sonsiderable length in this chapter. While I agree that the creation of
such machinery is desirable, I think it necessary to state the special
considerations which have led me to this conclusion. The Indian Tea
Association in its memorandum stated that, as so few labourers work the
full number of days, it considered that the statutory establishment of a
minimum wage is unnecessary and would be difficult to enforce. It
also drew attention to the fact that a large percentage of the labour force
sultivate land of their own and are in a different position from industrial
workers who are dependent on their earnings for their livelthood. The
representatives of the Association who gave evidence before us stated that
adjustments of wages were left to the District Sub-Committees of the
Assam Branches. Only superintendents and managers of gardens are
eligible to serve on these Committees and a suggestion made by one of
our members that they might co-opt suitable representatives of labour
and possibly Government officials to determine the minimum wage or
the common standard for the districts was considered worthy of con-
sideration by the representatives of the Association who stated that, if
they had a scheme put before them, they would consider it. They,
however, did not consider that conditions on tea estates were so unsatis-
factory, as compared with other industries in India and with those in the
districts from which the labour emigrates, as to necessitate such a scheme
in Assam.

The scheme now put forward in the Report gives details of
matters that require consideration but, in my opinion, more attention
should be given to the objections and difficulties indicated by the repre-
sentatives of the Association and the planters in their evidence before us.
Apart from difficulties arising out of differences within the estates them-
selves, these representatives took objection to singling out tea specially
and Assam tea in particular for the introduction of an innovation in the