ELECTION OF MEMBERS......LABOUR DEPARTMENT 61
placing before the Committee matters which are of importance and interest to Labour.
Then, the other thing I would like to submit to the House is this that this is not the only Committee to advise the Labour Department. Besides this, we have now instituted a Plenary Conference which consists of representatives of the Central, Provincial Governments, and also the Indian States, the representatives of employers and of labour are also represented on the Plenary Conference on a very extensive scale. There is no case for so large an increase asked for by the Honourable Dr. Banarjea. In addition to that we have also got the Standing Labour Advisory Committee. Having regard to the circumstances I hold the view that if there was any case for the enlargement of the personnel of the Committee, that case has considerably suffered by reason of the constitution of the Plenary Conference as well as by the Standing Labour Committee. However, if my Honourable friend is anxious that the personnel of this Committee should be increased, I am prepared to increase the number to eight-assigning five to this House and three to the upper Chamber: and I hope this will satisfy my Honourable friends in this House.
Mr. H.A. Sathar H. Essak Sait (West Coast and Nilgiris : Muhammadan) will the Honourable member please tell the house whether Members of this Committee are members of the Plenary Conference ?
The Honourable Dr. B.R. Ambedkar : Some of them are Messrs Mehta and Joshi are Members both of the Plenary Conference as well the Standing Committee.
Mr. H.A. Sathar H. Essak Sait : Are they ex-officio members of the Plenary Conference ?
The Honourable Dr. B. R. Ambedkar : No, they represent their organisations.
Maulvi Muhammad Abdul Ghani (Tirhut Division : Muham madan) : Sir, in view of the war conditions this Labour Committee has become very very important. It deals with the labour questions. Besides, as has just been pointed out by the Honourable the Member in charge, this Committee deals with many other important questions such as building matters.....