344 
CHAPTER XVIII, : 
industries and the main centres, the organisation of employers is more 
than adequate for the purpose. “The organisation of the employees is, 
as a rule, weak ; but we believe that in many centres it would suffice 
to make a start, and the working of joint machinery would go far to 
strengthen the better elements and to increase that sense of responsibility 
in trade unions which so many employers are anxious to develop. It 
would be unwise for us to attempt to lay down in detail any definite form 
of constitution for the bodies which in our view should be set up wherever 
conditions permit. Circumstances vary greatly from centre to centre, 
and in a matter where the spirit is all important and the form entirely 
secondary, it is almost essential that the method should be evolved by 
those who are themselves to operate it. Tt should be recognised that a 
dispute in one establishment is liable to spread to others in the same 
centre. The broad lines of organisation, therefore, should include, not 
only some joint committee or council within the individual establishment, 
but also a larger body representative of both sides of the industry in the 
centre concerned. The smaller body can be identical with the works 
committee where that is vigorous, or it can be separately constituted, 
and would deal with disputes affecting the single establishment. The 
larger body would deal with more general questions, and might also act 
as an advisory appellate body in respeet of disputes which are confined to 
one establishment. We would add that in all industrial differences time 
is a factor of great importance. There must be some security that dis- 
putes will be settled promptly. The initial stages must be of an 
experimental character, for experience is scarce in India ; but we would 
draw attention to the Ahmedabad system which has already been 
described and to the Mediation Rules approved by the Bombay 
Millowners’ Association and the Joint Strike Committee in Bombay in 
1998 * 
Future Legislation. 
There remains the question of the assistance that should be afford- 
ed by the State in the settlement of disputes. We have already given a 
very brief outline of the Trade Disputes Act of 1929 and of the almost 
continuous exploration of the subject during the ten years which preceded 
its enactment. As this involved a far more thorough examination of the 
subject than has been possible for us, and as little experience has yet been 
gained of the Act in operation, we feel some hesitation in discussing its 
provisions, and cannot attempt any detailed review. We note, however, 
that the Legislature, presumably on account of doubt as to the most 
suitable form of permanent legislation, limited the operation of the Act 
to five years. We do not doubt that some statutory machinery will be 
permanently required to deal with trade disputes, and it will be neces- 
sary to consider the form which such machinery should take before the 
Act expires in the first half of 1934. The hest service we can render 
is to refer to some of the views expressed to us in this connection and 
to offer comments on a few of the outstanding questions which arise. 
. * These are published as Appendix XI to the Report of Bombay Strike Enquiry 
Committee, 1928-29 ; they have not yet been put into operation.