MINUTE BY SIR VICTOR SASSOON. 486
dent chairman. The intervention of any foreign element immediately.
alters the whole complexion of such Boards.
If the Assam tea industry could have been classed as a “ sweat-.
ed ”’ industry, this exceptional treatment might have been justifiable :
but as facts are it seems to me that the proposed imposition of Minimum
Wage Boards would be an act of injustice to a trade in which the worker,
according to the local Government, “ can already earn enough to keep
him in health and reasonable comfort.”

Conclusion. .

The differences between my colleagues and myself on the points
under review do not in any way mitigate my respect for their opinions or
their judgment. Any discussion of economic problems in India leaves
room for a greater divergence of views than would be the case under
similar circumstances in Europe ; for in India we have been confronted
with problems the intricacy of which has been greatly augmented by lack
of those well-formed and tabulated statistics regarding industry which
are usually available for Commissions reviewing economic and industrial
problems. We have undoubtedly been hampered by the unreliability
and, indeed, in some cases the complete absence of data : in their place we
have found a mass of conflicting opinion. . In such circumstances it is not
surprising to find that there are some serious cleavages of opinion between
us ; such dissensions are regrettable but inevitable.

VICTOR SASSOON.
APPENDIX. .
Copy of letter dated the 21st February 1931, from T. Maloney, Esq., Secretary, The
Millowners' Association, Bombay, to Sir Victor Sassoon, Bart.

I have had enquiries made as to the experience of Bombay Mills which have worked
shifts of less than 10 hours during the last few years. To facilitate comparison, I have
taken the production for 10 hours as 100 in each case and worked out the corresponding
production rate for the shorter shift.

1. The Toyo Podar Mills.—This Mill has been running for some months on a day
shift of 10 hours and a night shift of 9 hours, and they consider that they had obtained
steady working in December last. A comparison for the months of December/ January
works out as follows :—

Spinning.—Day shift 10 hours’ production 100
Night shift 9 hours’ production should be 90
Actual production for 9 hours . 86-42
Weaving.—Day shift 10 hours’ production 100
Night shift 9 hours’ production should be 90
Actual production for 9 hours’ night shift 89.5
. The Toyo Podar Mills make no comments as to the reason for the falling off in the
spinning production during the 9-hour shift.
2. Manchester Mill.—(December—January).
LO hours’ day shift ; 9 hours’ night shift.
Spinning.—Average production in 10 hours
Production in 9 hours should be .. .  ..
Actual production in 9 hours .. -
Weaving.—Average production in 10 hours
Production in 9 hours should be ve
Actual production in 9 hours .. .v