Indian Industrial Commission (Holland Commission)

Confidential written and oral evidence taken at Cawnpore, Bankipore, Muzaffarpur, Calcutta, Madras, Bangalore, Bombay, Lahore, Rangoon, Namtu and Mandalay between 6 November 1916 and 21 March 1918, and Confidential Inspection Notes written by various members of the Commission following visits to industrial sites in India and Burma between 26 October 1916 and 11 March 1918

The Indian Industrial Commission was appointed by the Government of India on 19 May 1916 with instructions to examine and report on the possibilities of further industrial development in India, and to recommend whether there were new openings for the profitable employment of Indian capital in commerce and industry and in what way the Government could usefully give direct encouragement to industrial development. The Commission was composed of Sir T.H. Holland (President), Alfred Chatterton, The Hon'ble Sir Fazulbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim, Edward Hopkinson, The Hon'ble C.E. Low, The Hon'ble Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, The Hon'ble Sir Rajendra Nath Mookerjee, The Right Hon'ble Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett, The Hon'ble Sir F.H. Stewart and Sir Dorabji Jamsetji Tata. The President, Sir Thomas Holland, undertook a preliminary tour of India between June and September 1916, while the whole Commission undertook two tours of India (1916-17 and 1917-18). Members of the Commission undertook personal inspections of industrial enterprises, and discussions were held with representatives of local committees and institutions. Meetings were also held with Provincial Industrial Committees in some Provinces and with some of the Local Governments and Administrations. A list of questions for witnesses was also prepared covering the scope of the Commission's enquiry. In total the Commission recorded the written statements of 472 witnesses of which 342 appeared before the Commission to give oral evidence, some of which was treated as confidential. The evidence was subsequently printed in six volumes: Volume I Delhi, United Provinces and Bohar and Orissa; Volume II Bengal and Central Provinces; Volume III Madras and Bangalore; Volume IV Bombay; Volume V Punjab, Assam, Burma and General; Volume VI Confidential. The Commission concluded that India's industrial system was unevenly and inadequately developed, that an organised system of technical, financial and administrative assistance was needed to improve the economic development of India, and that it was necessary for the State to become more intimately involved with industrial enterprise than had previously been the case. The Commission's main proposals included technical education in practical relation to industrial requirements, the supply of advice and assistance through organised scientific and technical services, and the provision of more liberal finance for industries.

Unrestricted

Copies of the Report of the Commission and appendices can be found at IOR/V/26/600/1-2, IOR/V/4/SESSION 1919 VOL 17 and IOR/L/PARL/2/404. Volume 1 of the evidence can be found at IOR/V/26/600/3, IOR/V/4/SESSION 1919 VOL 17 and IOR/L/PARL/2/404A. Volumes 2 to 5 of the evidence can be found in the Parliamentary Papers at IOR/V/4/SESSION 1919 VOL 18, IOR/V/4/SESSION 1919 VOL 19 and IOR/V/4/SESSION 1919 VOL 20, as well as in the Parliamentary Branch Records at IOR/L/PARL/2/404A-C. Another copy of the Confidential Evidence can be found at IOR/L/PARL/2/404D. Another copy of the Confidential Inspection Notes can be found at IOR/L/E/7/855 File 8417/15. The memorandum of evidence on ''industrial employees'' by A.E. Mirams (including maps, plans, photographs and appendices omitted from Evidence Volume 4) is at IOR/V/26/600/4. The statement of witness no.161, P.C. Dutt, President, Jubbulpore Municipal Committee (reprinted from Evidence Volume 2) is at IOR/V/26/600/5. Notes on the industries of the United Provinces for the use of the Industrial Commission by A.H. Silver is at IOR/V/27/600/86. Further papers relating to the Indian Industrial Commission can be found in the Economic Department Annual Files (IOR/L/E/7). See also the following India Office Private Papers Collections: Papers of 1st Viscount Chelmsford (Mss Eur E264/41) and the Papers of Sir Alexander and Lady MacRobert (Mss Eur F221/63) for more copies of the Commission's Report. A copy of the speech on the Indian Industrial Commission made by the Indian Trade Commissioner, D.T. Chadwick to members of the London Chamber of Commerce is at Mss Eur F221/64.

Indian Industrial Commission 1916-18 Report (Calcutta, 1918)