LABOUR IN MADRAS 233 forth, and then, out of sheer impatience, he makes the change in the hope of making some money and goes to a factory. He works there for a few years under the conditions, and then I believe, and I think it can be proven from records, on account of the severe conditions under which he has to work, he retires after a few years broken down in health. Without being able to save much money ?...Yes : and that produces the very curious phenomenon which was observed by two Commissions appointed by the Government, that they did not find labourers in the factories above the age of forty as a rule. That is due to the premature exhaustion which steps in on account of the factory conditions. MR. BENNET Mr. Wadia, do you know the industrial conditions of Bombay as well as those of Madras ?... Not so well of Bombay as of Madras. You are member of a well-known Bomba y family, are you not ?...Yes. I thought so. Will you give me your view of the manner in which the Mill owners of Bombay as a classthey own something like eighty Mills do they not?-have performed their duties towards those whom they employ? ... Some of them have done very well by their labourers. It is a very interesting question because it relates to the new conditions that are arising in India. The labourer now is not satisfied to take better conditions as a matter of favour which the Indian capitalist in Bombay is willing to provide for him. I know of instances of Mills owned by Indian capitalists who make admirable arrange ments for their labourers in several mills. I cannot
