a time of scarcity; well, you have the goods; but why do you not in return part with your precious hoard of gold when we are readily parting with our precious raw materials and food grains on which the very existence of the Western Countries depended and still depends? This is bare justice; and it will be good for all concerned; India will have then no grievance, and further, prices all over the world will be lowered because of the gold having flowed in large quantities to India in payment of her huge trade balances against foreign countries; this phenomenon of less money and lower prices I have already discussed in my previous article referred to twice in this contribution. It would be a blessing for all humanity if the money prices of all the commodities were to go down; all would be quite happy in that case save the big bankers, financiers and the merchants of the world who are mainly instrumental in this rise of prices. I don't know why continental banks should prize their gold hoards so much. India should refuse to have silver money and should demand gold for her golden wares parted at this juncture. If all the gold would be absorbed by the much maligned Indian hoards that does not matter to the populace; we will go back to the happy days of barter and will no more find the present bickering and discontent, uneasiness and poverty produced by the alarmingly high prices. Let this war be a fresh starting point for the world in all matters. Again one fails to comprehend as to why the Secretary of State even does not transfer all gold that collects in England by the sale of Councils directly to to India.; We never anticipate in the future that so much gold will be acquired there in England by the Secretary of State for the purpose for which it is earmarked in view of the expanding claims of India against foreigners. near Transference of part of this gold to India would much ease the exchange situation; but the English banks and the English authorities seem much afraid of all gold flowing to India and hence the Secretary of State sells only in limited quantities gold in India, as announced by the Government recently. Even gold coins are not sold, but bar gold, to prevent gold sovereign from replacing the silver coin of this land. All this affair has involved the poor ryot to whom all spmpathies should go.-I mean the poor cultivator and producer-in great loss; when one goes to the market in this high season and sees the cart loads of his produce being paid for in paper money which he is unwilling to accept and so sells the same in exchange for hard cash at a high discount of some five to eight per cent as was perhaps the case during the last harvest, one is simply angry with the merchant's greed for gain. At least for the sake of the poor Indian cultivator for whom both the Government and the enlightened public have equal concern-and rightly too for we all live on his hard and sweated work-should this present system of currency and exchange be modified. Rural India must prosper and everything must be made to achieve its prosperity for on it depends our urban welfare. It therefore behoves the Government to modify the present system, at least, in the interests of the poor and meek cultivator. Indeed the interests of the poor peasantry, the country's pride, should never be allowed to be destroyed by such a system of exchange and currency; they give us good produce? Let us in turn give them good money, for on their contentment, prosperity and happiness should we feel proud and happy, and attempts to fleece them should be crushed. The ideal currency for the future and in the immediate present also should be gold sovereign to pay for large payments, and subsidiary silver coinage as at present, for small payments; currency notes also may be there but for those should who accept the same; currency notes never be forced on the poor ryot not used to their use. This would not mind the poor ryot THE SWADESHI MOVEMENT Views of representative Indians and Anglo-Indians. Contains among others, the views of Dadabhai Naoroji, H. H. the Gaekwar of Baroda, H. H. the Maharaja of Dharbunga, G. K. Gokhale, Dr. Sir Rash Behari Ghose, Hon. Sir Fazulbhoy Currimbhoy Ebrahim, Mr. M. K. Gandhi, Sir R. N. Mookerjea, Sir D. E. Wacha, Hon. Rao Bahadur R. N. Mudholkar, Hon. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Mrs. Besant, Mr. Tilak, etc. Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged. Price Re. 1-4. To Subscribers of "I.R." Re. 1. G. A. Natesan & Co., Publishers, George Town, Madras BY MR. R. K. SANGAMESWARA AIYAR, M.A., L.T. CAPITAL AND LABOUR HE first and foremost problem in the contemporary history of every western country is that of Labour'. In the long struggle between capital' and 'labour', the latter has at last come out successful. The days when coercive steps were taken to check the demands of labour,' have well nigh come to a close; con ciliation has taken the place of coercion and the triumpant march of democracy is invariably associated with the aggressive character of labour. While labour threatens to subvert the existing political and social conditions in the west, fortunately the day is yet for distant if it were to. come at all, when India will have to meet face to face with a similar crisis. But yet the Indian labour question is already sufficiently serious to demand attention. Anyone who has watched the trend of events in the last year or two cannot but contemplate with serious misgivings the future development of labour in our country. The constant occurrence of strikes in various parts of the country and the universal demand for higher wages, though directly attributable to the present abnormal rise in prices would yet lead careful thinkers to trace them to deep-seated economic causes. We have our own labour problem', in the solving of which a knowledge of the conditions of other countries would only be of limited use to us. For it is well to bear in mind the fact that economic laws like economic institutions, cannot be bodily applied to, or transplanted from one country to another. The truths of modern economics are obviously best suited to western conditions where they mainly developed; therefore, while trying to make them applicable to a country, like India, proper allowance must be made for the peculiar social and political conditions. TWO DISTINCT TYPES OF LABOUR Unlike many modern countries, labour' in India embraces two distinct types-agricultural labour, and factory labour. Each of them has a characteristic of its own. While it is possible to think of factory labour' becoming sufficiently educated to assert itself, and in time, to work for its own amelioration, it is impossible to think of progress of a similar kind with the other class. Agricultural labour is in a most pitiable condition. Its helplessness is such that in its case progress and reform are almost impossible from within ; and any attempts for its amelioration must wholly come from without. Again, in the study of factory labour a knowledge of western conditions and institutions would be of great use to us; on the other hand in the study of agricultural labour the position of India is peculiar if not unique, and on that question western economics is almost silent. Since a complete solution of our labour problem means a simultaneous improve ment in the conditions of either of these kinds of labour, we shall briefly consider the two sides of this question. AGRICULTURAL LABOUR A cursory glance at the Indian conditions by an Indian or a foreigner impresses him with cer tain indisputable facts. He is struck with the extremely backward state of the mass of the population, their colossal ignorance, and their poverty-stricken condition. Again the fact that nearly 90 per cent of this population are depen dent solely on agriculture and are living in the villages of a country possessed of great natural advantages for that industry, shows at once that India can never become, and ought not to become a purely industrial country. National regeneration cannot be brought about, in a country like this, by aiming solely at industrial progress; the development of scientific processes in agri as absolutely culture on up-to-date lines are essential as the utilisation of fresh inventions in manufactures. In other words, the agricultural industry must be our mainstay, backed up and strengthened by manufacturing industries on & broad scale. Therefore, attempts must first be made not only for improving Agricultural occupa tion by the introduction of the latest methods, but also by improving the efficiency of the agri tural labourer. His condition must be improved intellectually and financially. Institutions like model forms and agricultural schools, adapted for the practical demonstration of the latest im provements, would be great steps in his emancipa tion, if they are coupled with the spread of primary education on a large scale. * As regards the vexed question of 'agricultural credit', that can materially raise the status of the ryot, the recent views of Sir Daniel Hamilton, on the subject would be found worthy of serious *In this connection, the starting of agricultural schools by the Madras Government and the success attending them, would be watched with keen interest. consideration. He says, "If there is to be any future for the ryot at all, an effective agricultural credit must be organised. The most suitable agency for creating such a credit system is the Government, because 1. "It is the duty of the Government to protect the people from oppression and to destroy a system of finance-the Mahajan-which brings discredit on British rule, and dishonour to the British flag and which sterilizes the beneficent work of the government. 2. "No one else can produce the credit money required by 315 millions of people; and the trade balance on which the currency system turns, centres in the hands of government and will provide the capital required. 3. "If it is the duty of government to provide a railway system which removes the surplus crops of the people, it is equally the duty of the government to provide a banking system which will bring back the price. ་་ 4. 'Without a banking system which will develop the money power of the country, the reform scheme or any other scheme becomes a dead letter and the new Legislative Council a farce." He concludes by appealing to the powers that be to "finance the ryot and take up the neglected duty" and then India will march onwards at the head of the Empire, instead of hanging back in the rear, where she now is. Equipped with the essentials of his trade, the Indian cultivator would be second to none in point of capacity; for even Europeans admit that he is "a perfect picture of careful cultivation, combined with hard labour, perseverence, and fertility of resource," while his helpless state at present "brought about largely by an absence of facilities for improvement is totally unequalled in any other country." Wherever agricultural industry flourishes, there is also plenty of room for a number of self-sufficing college industries, that would at once serve as a policy for the labourer and his family, and satisfy a part of the national demand. For even in lands where machine-production has reacted its perfection, it is universally admitted that there is always a "large class of artistic and intellectual work which cannot be undertaken by machinery. The most highly finished products in the clothing and boot trades are still hand-made. One of the most hopeful signs of the last few years is the growing intrusion of art into the machine industries -the employment of skilled designers and executants, who shall tempt and educate the public eye with grace.of form and harmony of colour. In pottery, * James MacKenna. textile wares, hardware, furniture and many other industries, the beginnings of public taste are operating in demand for variety and ornament. May not this be the beginning of a cultivation of individual taste which shall graft a fine art upon each machine industry, apportioning to machinery that work which is hard, dull, dangerous, monstrous, and uneducative, while that which is pleasant, worthy, interesting and educative is reserved for the human agent?" * FACTORY LABOUR We shall now consider the position of the Indian factory labour or simply, labour'. Here a knowledge of western institutions would be of great service to us. There India is just undergoing the transition from the domestic to the factory system. Our cottage industries have died out, or, are rapidly dying out, without a corresponding advance in machine production a fact forcibly reminding us of our peculiar conditions. Nevertheless, we already have thousands of hands employed in our mines, mills, factories and tea and coffee estates. are great attractions and alluring prospects for the more adventurous among the poverty stricken peasantry, to leave their homes and flock to the mills and factories in the neighbouring towns. This was the state of things that existed in every country at the beginning of its industrial revolution. Also, a sharply worked out labouring class is now existence or is but just coming into existence in India. Labour is still a puny infant, and requires the help and sympathy of others to nurse it to maturity. As we have seen in the wake of this reaction there always comes misery. Numbers of factory labourers, deserting the free air of their country cottages, are crowding into the dirtiest hovels and slums of industrial centres. The conditions in India have not grown to such glaring abuses as in European countries. For the workman, is not yet inclined to settle down permanently in factory centres; the charm of country life is not yet lost to him, and he often eagerly cherishes and executes the ambition of spending his last days in his original cottage home. Further in several cases the labourer seeks work in factories but temporarily in the slack season, and returns to his field with the monsoon. Nevertheless his lot in and out of the factory is hard enough to receive serious attention. With the rise of mills and factories in the country, the government has enacted a set of regulations (1891 and 1911) regarding factory *J. A. Hobson on "civilisation and Industrial Development." conditions, and hours of work for men, women and children. Although much good has resulted from them, it should be remembered that any amount of regulations would fail to bring about the desired results, if the mill owners and capitalists do not faithfully carry them out. While the amelioration of the conditions inside the factory requires the close co-opertion of the government and the employers, those outside it may be improved wholly or partially by the sympathy and generosity of enlightened capitalists. Every employer should realise, apart from the philanthropy of it, that better accommodation and better surroundings to labour would bring in increased efficiency among his workmen and in the long run, increased himself profits to the "To demonstrate possibility of providing the best conditions for the training of children, and bring elevating influences to bear on the factory hands " men of the stamp of Robert Owen and William Lever, are the greatest needs of our country. It is really very gratifying to note that the mill owners of Bombay have realised their grave responsibility and are trying to do something useful in this the direction. In his presidential address at recent annual meeting of the Bombay Millowner's Association, the Coairman, Mr. C. N. Wadia, aptly reminded his audience that "good housing was not only desirable but absolutely necessary and every employer should make some effort the maximum effort that his permitted him to house, if not considerable portion of his operatives. housing would mean better health, and better health would enable the operatives to stay longer at their work and reduce the attraction of their Konkan villages. . . . The best they could do was to house them well, educate their children and to a certain extent reduce the hours of their labour." Surely, sincere attempts of employers, on these lines, would considerably mitigate the evils of transition. al', means some Better Another feature of Indian labour is its cheapness and comparative inefficiency, both of them being a natural consequence of the extreme poverty and ignorance of the people. Nay, the inefficiency may even be wholly attributed to the want of education and instruction for the conduct of life. Improved education, higher wages and healthy surroundings are sure to bring in a higher grade of efficiency. In the words of Mr. Kale.* *Indian Economics p. 75. "What is urgently required is organisation and expansion of our whole educational system. The diffusion of primary education, the starting of techni cal and industrial schools and the provision of mechanical training for factory operatives must be undertaken on a liberal and comprehensive scale and nothing must be left to custom or to chance." LABOUR ORGANISATIONS The last but not the least peculiarity of Indian labour is the conspicuous absence of influential labour organisatiors. Among other things, the migratory character of labour, and the non-exis tence of a proletariat are chiefly responsible for the poor combination of labour. Any one can easily perceive the necessity and usefulness of well directed labour unions, in increasing the bargaining power of labour and diminishing the number of feebly organised and half-successful strikes. Concentrated action in ventilating grievances, and settling up of disputes by arbitrations, would be equally valuable to capital and labour, and considerably diminish Further, the need mutual misunderstanding. for labour unions is all the greater in this country, where most of the industrial and other concerns are owned by European capitalists, who are often too far away from this country to be in touch with the ideals, aspirations and economic conditions of the Indian labourer. Naturally great difficulty is felt in their response and accommodation to rapidly changing labour conditions here, as has been amply evidenced in several cases of recent strikes. In the face of unprecedented rise in prices, it is surprising to note that persons who earned huge war profits, utterly failed to respond to the legitimate demand of labour for an increase in wages. It will take some time for labour unions on the western model to come into existence and make their bargaining power felt. Meanwhile genuine and practical sympathy may be exhibited by generous and noble minded emplo yers, not only by resorting to higher wages to suit the changed conditions of life, but also, b resorting to some type of profit sharing scheme Such a device, apart from promoting mutual sympathy and good will between the employer and the employed, would also serve as a strong inducement for steady employment; it will also have a striking moral effect on labour by captur ing its imagination and would carry with it a double blessing, it would "bless him that gives and him that takes." Kurnool 592 Ramnad Tinnevelly Coimbatore The Nilgiris Salem South Kanara Malabar 10,90,700 8,10,300 6,30,400 12,95,700 2,08,300 3,38,000 1,523 9,32,500 Chingleput Chittoor Bellary Cuddapah South Kanara Anantapur Nellore 176 2,83,66,000 2,90,37,000 5,74,03,000 Besides a large sum subscribed in the Madras Presidency to the Indian Imperial Relief Fund, 74 lakhs of rupees were subscribed to the Madras War Fund. With the money contributed to the Madras War Fund the hospital ship 'Madras ' was equipped and maintained up to the 31st of May 1918. The medical and nursing staff of the ship was composed of Madras men and women, From the beginning of the war up to the 31st May 1918 this Hospital ship made 3 voyages to Mombasa and back, 27 to Basra, 11 to Suez, 2 to Alexandria and 13 to Shat-el-Arab. She carried sick or wounded-595 British officers, 5,177 British rank and file, 313 Indian officers, 16,682 Indian rank and file and 407 German and Turkish prisoners. Further the Madras War Fund equipped and staffed the River Hospital ship 'The Sikhim.' This river steamer served in Mesopotamia making 249 voyages up the river from Basra to the firing line. She carried sick or wounded-927 British officers, 11,641 British rank and file, 97 Indian officers, 8,496 Indian rank and file and 254 Turkish prisoners of war. SUPPLY OF MUNITIONS. The Madras Presidency supplied in great quantities the materials required by the Allies for carrying on the war. Six and a half crores worth of hides were purchased by the War Office in Madras for the production of the leathe |