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3. Although the introduction of the steam-engine and the consequent industrial development in Western countries produced concentration of man-power and capital, various factors, including the use of light petrol-motors and small electric motors to-day, enable a large number of industries to be decentralized. An opportunity is thus offered to the countries of Asia to embark upon a new procedure of industrialization, better suited to their traditions and aspirations, and likely, in certain conditions, to avoid some of the evils caused by the Industrial Revolution in Western countries. 4. The Conference therefore considers that efforts should be made in the countries of Asia to establish, where feasible, branches of industrial production on the basis of small domestic and handicraft industries. 5. The Conference accordingly requests the Governing Body to instruct the International Labour Office, in consultation, where appropriate, with any other international organizations which may be concerned, — (a) To assist the Governments of the countries of Asia to devise means of protecting the workers engaged in these industries and of organizing these industries, especially on co-operative and federated lines, so that small and autonomous undertakings can benefit from the financial, technical, and commercial advantages normally enjoyed by undertakings in large scale industry; and (b) To make comparative studies of the problems affecting industrial home, cottage, and handicraft workers. 6. The Conference further requests the Governing Body to consider, in the light of the progress made in the studies undertaken on the basis of this resolution, what aspects of these questions could usefully be further considered by succeeding Asian Regional Conferences. 11. Resolution concerning Co-operation 1. Universal experience long since established not only in the countries of other continents, but also in the majority of the countries of Asia, has demonstrated the part which the different categories of rural co-operatives, handicraftsmen's co-operatives, workers' productive co-operatives, consumer co-operatives, and housing co-operatives are able to play in the economic and social betterment of the working populations of rural areas and industrial centres. 2. In particular, co-operative institutions of all categories are able to contribute substantially, in the interests of the community at large, to the liberation of primary producers, handicraft workers, and domestic industries from usury in all its forms ; to their guidance in the complexity of market economy ; and to the improvement of their economic position, the improvement of techniques, the increase of productivity, and the reduction of costs of production and distribution. 3. Furthermore, they are, or can become, efficacious instruments of education by inculcating habits of providence, thrift, and hygiene, by diffusing general enlightenment among their members, by imparting training in the handling of economic matters, and by developing, owing to the democratic method of their administrations, qualities of initiative and a sense of responsibility. 4. For all these reasons it is desirable that the development and operation of cooperative organizations should be included to the fullest possible extent in all the plans of economic and social reconstruction of Asian countries. 5. The very efficacy of co-operative organizations, which are essentially voluntary associations, depends upon the preparatory and continuing education and training of their leaders and members. But, at the same time, in view of the historical, geographical,

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