Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1850495947

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-233603

Document type:: Monograph

Title:: Report of the Royal Commission on Labour in India

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: His Majesty's Stationery Off.

Year of publication:: 1931

Scope:: xviii, 580 S.; graph. Darst., Kt.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter VIII. - Mines

Collection:: Economics Books

MINES. 109 that neither hookworm nor malaria is responsible. Col. Gill also pointed out defects in diet and a complete absence of sanitary arrangements. At the time of our visit, conditions seemed to be much as this report presented them, and we have been unable to find that any action had been taken, on it. Health conditions in the mine are no more satisfactory than in the settlement itself and the inadequacy of the sanitary arrange- ments and the pollution of the atmosphere underground may be re- garded as contributing to the low standard of health of the com- munity. A special obligation lies upon the Government of India, who own and work this mine, to see that health standards and working conditions are improved. We recommend that, in addition to the ap- plication of our general recommendations as to health, early steps be taken to correct defects and to bring the sanitary conditions of the workings and the settlement up to a reasonable standard. We also recommend the provision of latrine accommodation near the entrance to the mine and improved latrines underground. A small sanitary staff should also be provided and placed under the supervision of the medical officer in charge of the hospital. We understand that a system of electric haulage in the main gallery is awaiting sanction, and this, with a more effective method of ventilation, would greatly improve the health of the mine. Lead and Silver Mines. The only lead mine of any importance in British India is the Bawdwin mine in the Northern Shan States in Burma, situated nearly 600 miles from Rangoon and far from any other centre of population. Its own railway covers the fifty miles between the mine and the main line, and, with its ore mills, smelter and subsidiary plant, the mine forms a large self-contained settlement. There are sixteen thousand workers In employment, with an unknown number of dependents. The mine itself is a highly organised concern working on three 8 hour shifts. Six thousand men are employed, 85 per cent of them underground. Wages are paid on a system of contract bonus. Eighty-two per cent of the stopes are let on contract to a crew of normally 15 men, (5 on each shift) and the rate per “set” of ground is agreed between the company and the three leading miners. The work is measured up at the end of each month to ascertain the amount earned. During the month éach miner is paid half-monthly at a daily rate and the difference between the amounts so paid and the contract earning is distributed pro rata amongst the crew, less 10 per cent which is divided between the three leading Miners in addition to their share. This balance is paid with the second half-month’s wages. The lowest daily rate paid in the mine is Re. 1-4-0 and, in the case we saw, men on this rate received Rs. 20 each as their share of the monthly balance. Apart from workers who come from India, mainly from hill districts, there is a substantial number of Chinese from Yunnan in the mine. The company provides free housing, an excellent hospital, to which the inhabitants of the surrounding country also come, clubs and stores for the sale of food. The Bawdwin mine and the works dependent on it at Namtu are unique in more ways than one. The local administration of this

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