LABOUR IN MADRAS 157 both of which have resulted in a certain gain to the Tramwaymen's Union. To many of you perhaps the first strike must appear as resulting in more or less of a failure. That is not really so. The first strike gave us the material on which we have been trying to build up our Tramwaymen's Union, and the apparent results were also good, for we gained victory along many points which we wanted. The second strike resulted in complete success for us. But I view that success from perhaps a different point of view than the one from which you are looking at it. You may be looking at the suc cess of the second strike from the point of view of the increasing wages, the question of leave, of clothing and of dress, and such other sundry matters which are no doubt of very vital interest and importance to you. To me, the victory that we have won by the help of the Tramwaymen's Union lies in the fact that, for the first time in the struggle between employers .and employees, the very sane course of coming to a decision by an Arbitration Board appointed by both parties is of very great value and importance. The importance of that in itself is very great, but when you consider that your employers, the Tramway Company, have acknowledged the Union, its basis, its constitution and the way of its work, that in itself is a great gain, and that is due entirely to the splendid way in which you have carried on that strike in the city of Madras. By that course you have not only gained for yourselves; but the principle of the appointment of an Arbitration Board will stand as an example when, in other cases of difficulty, ways and methods will be searched for, or an amicable settlement thought of in such
