Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/185

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LABOUR IN MADRAS
159


159 and find out the way in which they are treated, the scale of pay and wages fixed there, the methods of work, the hour and time period which are imposed on them and see if you cannot better your own condition by such a study. Thirdly by the help of that correspondence try to establish fraternal relations with your brother-workers in those great cities of Bombay and Calcutta. Union is strength. Because you are united you have won a victory in the strikes that have gone behind us. Have a greater union of all Tramwaymen in all parts of the country and begin with such unions in Bombay and Calcutta. Lastly, I would advise you to think of yourselves, of your comfort and your conveniences, the treatment which is meted out to you by your co-citizens in this place or by the Government officials or by your own countrymen and castemen. The whole tendency of the poorer classes in this country is to depend on some one else for help and benediction. I want you to realize that the greatest help that you can get for yourselves must come from within yourselves. I want you to realize that you are human beings and therefore have certain rights and privileges which you must demand and which you must possess. With the help of the labour that you are providing for the comfort and convenience of such a city as this, you are entitled to better wages, to better conditions of life, to better houses and better social status altogether. You should demand those things and the first step towards such right demand is to study your conditions and your own lives. Remember that you have in your hands not only the good of your own individual selves, not only the good of your own co-labourers but also you have in your hands