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221 that at this stage it may not be possible, then on behalf of my factory-going labourer I claim that his case ought to be specially considered, and for this reason; that in the general franchise which has been framed by Lord Southborough's Committee, the whole basis has been naturally the present agricultural labourer, because 90 per cent of our population is agricultural. Every time you consider the proposition of the franchise you will have to take that into consideration, so that while their case has been considered I submit that the case of the labourer, working in the big factories in big towns, has not been considered. There is one thing to be said for the factory-going labourer in the towns. CHAIRMAN Did you give evidence before the Franchise Committee ?...No. I was not called. Did you ask to be called ?...No, I did not. Was not that rather a mistake ? ... It did not occur to me to speak specially on behalf of the Indian labourer as a separate class. Mr. SPOOR I just want to ask one more question : Assuming that the Committee cannot see its way to grant an extension of the franchise at once, as you suge gest, do you think that the promise of an extension of the franchise, say, when the second election came alongif it was incorporated in the Act when the next election came it would be on a proper Franchise ? Do you think that would in any way meet the desires of the organiza. tions you represent and of the public opinion that you have been voicing here?... If it is definitely promised and incorporated in the statute so that we are sure that at