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India) was opposed to the amendment if it aimed to make it compulsory on the Government to. provide financial assistance to the movement, and the Ceylon Government member pointed out that the principle embodied in the amendment had already found, expression in recommendation No. 70 (Minimum Standards of Social Policy in DependentTerritories) adopted at the twenty-sixth session of the International Labour Conference'" (Philadelphia, 1944). Objection to the amendment was also expressed by the Singapore employers' member. The amendment was withdrawn. The original paragraphs of the Office text were approved by the Committee with, several minor amendments. The second draft resolution was modified to a greater extent in Committee, the amendments being designed to make the principles of the resolution more practicable. The final texts of the resolutions as adopted by the Conference are set out in Appendices 6 and 7 of this report. ■'■-"..,' 12, AGRICULTURAL WAGES AND INCOMES 0E PRIMARY 'PRODUCERS The Conference Committee set up to consider this item had before it the Office report, including the text of a proposed resolution. ■ Seven sittings of the Committee were held. The work of the Committee began with a general discussion on the position of agriculturists in the countries of Asia. Speakers emphasized the various factors affecting the levels of incomes of primary producers and of wages of agricultural workers. In this way the deliberations of the Committee made clear the close relationship between agricultural wages and incomes of primary producers, and the necessity of treating them together as one problem. Basic to this problem is a rise in the level of productivity in agriculture which was felt to be essential, and it was urged that appropriate action be undertaken to accelerate the rise of agricultural production, to establish systems of distribution of agricultural incomes on new lines, and to regulate the conditions of life and work ■. of rural labour. Emphasis was also laid on the fact that the rapid increase of population in these countries, especially in rural areas, and the limited land area, had contributed to make unemployment and under-employment permanent features of the agricultural economic structure of Asia. \ '■ . • The present land-tenure system.with its feudalistic characteristics was considered 1 to set limits to improvements in agricultural production and to the accumulation of capital, and consequently to lower the rate of investment in agriculture. This systemhad, moreover, given.rise to a series of problems such as indebtedness, with detrimental effects.; on agricultural production and incomes, Such developments had resulted in an increase in the rate of tenant farming and a rapid rise in the numbers of landlesslabourers. The Committee acknowledged the steps that had been taken in variouscountries either to abolish,this system or to promote more remunerative systems. The discussions of the Committee showed the urgent need for immediate action on the part of the Governments concerned for the promotion of systems of agricultural economy that would ensure security of employment and a rising standard of living for all those taking part in the : process -of production. Measures towards this end, it was pointed out, should include a new orientation of'holdings with a view to creating economic working units, the increase of output per worker through the provision of facilities for general and technical education and guidance, in conjunction with facilities for research and experimental farms, the promotion of co-operative action in the fields of farming,, finance, and marketing,! and the improvement of living conditions by the promotion of housing, : schemes, .the. expansion of -health services, 1 and other social amenities in the rural, areas.. .•-.:] ■.—>—S"'' i' ■ -•;■■" ■■' - :

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