Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/519

 CO-OPERAI'IV'E PROi7RE$$ indeed it might be said that factory industry in India will ;never be placed on s poper basis until co-oper- ation has developed on the urban side. One of the greatest hindrances to the progress of Indian industry is the "paucity of labor ". This mysterious phrase does not imply any inadequacy of mere human Ill expressed the the phrase. The bul of recent speech Sir Harcourt Butler true significance to be "At present our labor is it is recruited from material. accurately attached to immobile. rural, And well i of congenial corps, with areas and is uncertain and unstable ". may. What with poor housing, want surroundings, absence of any lit d high costs ot living and still higher usury eating ' into his pay, there is no wonder that labor from! country does not take to urban conditions. It the is for co-operative kindly td city life. Committees such as should enable effort-to make him take more 'The efforts of Debt Redemption have been - started in Bombay him some day to call his wages his Housing societies among working classes should acquire for him the possibility of living .in a decent cottage. His morale would be raised by belonging to a co-operative society and then we shall hear no more of "paucity o! labor". Indeed, thus fortified the laborer will be able to bargain with his employer on terms ot greater equality and independence. The Factory Acts too on which the welfare of labor depends to so great an extent will be better enforced when the laborer will have a co-operative organization o! primary societies, unions and federations to give voice to his grievances. In short, the organization of labor on the functions importing will thus the co-operative o! Trade benefit at lines Union of, the OnCe will serve many ot Organization without latter movement, and capital and .labOr. We