MINUTE BY SIR VICTOR SASSOON. 481
and preference for a slow speed of work. To ignore the existence of this
characteristic, whether it be due to climatic conditions and environment
or to other causes, is in my opinion to neglect an important factor in the
psychology of the Indian worker. The suggestion that the insertion of
frequent short intervals! might reduce fatigue is one to which I can readily
agree, provided that the tendency of the Indian operative to be “ slow off
the mark ” is surmountable.

Had my colleagues recommended that before statutory action
an enquiry should be held in order that further evidence could be obtained
as to the results of their recommendations, I should have been more
sympathetic. Had they asked the cotton industry to make experi-
ments in order to furnish some concrete evidence on which to base such
recommendations, I do not doubt that they would have had the support
of the industry. After consultation, however, with my technical staff,
[ feel that I am on sure ground in stating that, where a mill is now run on
efficient lines, a reduction of hours will inevitably lead to diminished pro-
duction, and at the present rate of earnings the reduction of the working
week from 60 to 54 hours would result in an increase of 7 to 8 per cent
in the cost of manufacture, excluding cotton. To saddle the cotton
industry with any further burdens during a period of depression and
exhaustion seems to me to be both unjust and unwise.

The Tea Industry in Assam.
The Assam tea planters occupy a peculiar position in India.
They have in the beginning, like almost all Indian industries, to induce
the agriculturist to leave his home and migrate long distances in order to
furnish themselves with a labour force sufficient for their purpose.

There are, however, two striking differences between the tea
trade and other industries in India. First, tea-planting isan agricultural
and not an industrial occupation ; the worker and his family live
in the country and frequently settle on their own land. We have been
informed that 600,000 ex-garden workers are settled on Government land
in Assam occupying an area of 150,000 acres. Secondly, recruiting for
the tea trade is not free as in other industries, but is hedged round with
restrictions. In the provinces from which a greater portion of the tea
planter’s labour is drawn he is not allowed to use propaganda in order
to induce the worker to migrate to Assam; on the other hand there
is nothing to stop the counter-propaganda in thosesame districts which
is vigorously carried on by the Zamindars interested in keeping labour
immobile and preventing migration.

The result of this position is somewhat curious. Stories of
hardships, disease and restriction of movement which may have been
true of Assam in the distant past still persist in the recruiting districts,
in spite of the overwhelming evidence that such a state of affairs is now
exceptional. The Report states, “ We met no one familiar with condi-
tiong both in Assam and in the recruiting areas who wished to discourage
1 Pace 48

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