LABOUR IN MADRAS 161 Union of your own. I can at once tell you that if you upite together, you will be one of the strongest unions not only in the City of Madras but in the entire Madras Presidency. I would advise you one thing and that is, do not be in a hurry to go about setting right your grievances, though they may be many. The first thing that I would like you to do is, to get all along the line at every place where there are workmen belonging to this Railway Company, to bring them together and to form small Unions. Just as the work of your Railway Company would not go on with only one workshop at Perambur but the Railway Company has to have workshops all along the line, so also you must have Labour Unions all along the line wherever these workshops exist. If during the coming six months when I am away in England you can form these Labour Unions all along the line, then I promise you that with the help of these Unions you will be able to redress all your grievances in practically a few days. For many years you have gone on putting up with grievances, with difficulties, with troubles and trials of all sorts and kinds. I would advise you to put up with those grievances for six months more, and spend all your time of the six months, all your energy, all that you have, in forming Unions all along the line where workshops exist. You are going to raise a magnificent building, but take some time and make your foundations very strong, and I would therefore advise you to put all your thought and energy into that work. When these Labour Unions are formed, leave the rest to those who would conduct the work on behalf of the Unions. To-day is not the time for me to speak to you and tell you all of the plan 11
