Indian economic conference

The presidential address of Lallubhai Samaldas at the Indian Economic Conference in Benares is very important, not only in itself but as coming from a man of considerable business experience, He made important suggestions on the subject of economic betterment of the people that deserve careful consideration. At the very outset, he said the discussions of the conference would be useless if they did not lead to practical results, and if the considered opinions expressed by economists after a careful study of various problems did not actually help the people and the government in effecting desired reforms. He expressed the opinion that the conference should concentrate its attention upon a few points and pass definite resolutions for the guidance of the people and the government. He regretted that the government was not taking an adequate interest in the improvement of the economic condition of the people and pointed out how several recommendations made by the Legislative Assembly had been shelved instead of any practical action being taken upon them. Nor had the government taken any action on the recommendations of the Industrial Commission, though many years had passed since they had been made. It was usual, the president pointed out, for people to think that the economic improvement of the country meant only the development of manufacturing industries. It so happened, however, that the principal industry in India was agriculture, and unfortunately this was also the most neglected industry. And there could be no economic improvement of the country worth the name in the present crippled conditions of the agriculturist.