230 LABOUR IN MADRAS higher in Bombay and Calcutta then you will see, as I have just said in reply to Lord Sinha's question, he is not in a position to pay that municipal rate or tax, and thus he will not be able to come into the number. How many do you say that you estimate would get votes if the basis were fifteen rupees a month?--Have you worked it out? You say that 4,000,000 would be too many in proportion to the number proposed ?... Yes Then you proceed on the other suggestions ?... Yes. One of those suggestions, as I understand it, is alternative to the original proposal, but for Madras would you suggest that every labourer earning fifteen rupees a month in a factory should get the vote?... In the City of Madras. How many do your think would get the vote on that qualification? ...Between 20,000 and 25,000 people in the City of Madras would get extra votes who are labourers. You are anxious to see the Services which deal with these factory and mine administrations transferred subjects ?...Yes. Would you like to see them transferred subjects if the present electorate was established without any re• presentation ?...Yes, certainly, because as I put forward the plea in my Memorandum, the Indian Ministers would be in a better position to understand and therefore to deal with the troubles which are existing now, than the official executive. Already in the past, the administration has had the chance of improving the factory legislation and of dealing with this problem, and my contention is that they have not done sufficient for the factory labourer.
