Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/239

Rh 213 CONCLUSION In conclusion, I earnestly appeal to the Joint Committee to enable the Indian Labourer to obtain some political power, to set his feet on the road of political advancement, and thereby of his own uplift. The ghastly conditions under which he exists are not easily describable; he has suffered in the past, and his welfare should not in the future be made to depend on those who are not responsible to him. The success of these reforms to a great extent depends on the atmosphere in which they will be worked in India. On account of various reasons I anticipate trouble in the Labour camp. If something is done now which will satisfy the labourer and convince him that his representatives are looking after his interests and fighting his battles, he will allow his energy and impatience to flow into good constructive work ; if nothing is done, then despair will seize him and impatience will lead him to ugly expressions which one wants to avoid in India. CROSS-EXAMINATION OF MR. B. P. Wadia Lord Selborne :-Would you like to add anything to it, before the members of the Committee ask you questions upon it? Mr. Wadia :-Well, my Lord, first one word, namely of thanks on behalf of the labourers for calling me here, which will give them a great hope and confidence in your Lordship's Committee. I do not think I need read the Memorandum, because it has been put in, but with your permission I will make a very short statement, which will take me a few minutes only. There are in India some 17,515,000 workmen employed in industries, of whom some 950.000 are in large establish