Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/208



182 LABOUR IN MADRAS NOTE.-In Bengal probably the most accurate compari son is with prisoners in the United Provinces; in Burma with prisoners in Madras generally, and more particularly with prisioners in the Rajabmundry Central Jail, which is situato in the tract from which the majority of the Madras labourers in Burra are recruited. The problem of wages was not examined by the Factory Commission of 1908. The Member of the Indian Civil Service quoted above says, “ Labour may be cheap, but life is not,” and it is not difficult to prove that India suffers, in more ways than one, on account of the scandalous wages paid to the labourer ; this happens when all the time the capitalists are hoarding wealthmill agents getting their handsome commissions, and shareholders their big dividends. To substantiate these general remarks I give below a few typical figures which can tell their tale more eloquently than my words. Take these earnings of workers in the Cotton Mills of Bombay, of the Jute Mills of Bengal, of the Leather Works of Cawnpore, etc., and compare then with wages of Lancashire and Dundee and other factories in the United Kingdom generally. Specimen Wages in the Cotton Mills of Bombay: f. 8. d. Drawer card room) 1 11 2 Reeler 1 3 0 Warper 2 14 0 Rover • 1 12 1 per month. Doffer (card room) ... 16 10 Weaver ... 3 2 7 j Wages are paid monthly, with two to three weeks in arrears. These sample rates were prevalent in Bombay in 1918, and include War Bonus. Again, these rates are in Bombay, and wages are higher there than in other