LABOUR IN MADRAS 31 and is followed by the Madras Times. Discussion has been going on in the Press, but I have not thought it neces. sary or expedient to answer the criticisms. Only one point in all these criticisms, it is necessary for me to refer to. It is said that the Carnatic and Buckingham Mills are excellent factories which give all sorts of comforts and conveniences to their men. This is true. I have said so to Mr. Symonds in my letter. What is necessary to draw attention to here is this : All these comforts and conveniences for the labourers are planned from the point of view of the employer, who has kept in mind his own interests. Mr. M. C. Sitaraman, the late Assistant Weaving Master of the Carnatic Mills, has shown this clearly in his two articles to the Press, dated May 30th and June 8th. BINNY & CO. AND "NEW INDIA.” My friend Mr. K. C. Desikacharri wrote against our movement and challenged me “To compare the condition of the working men employed in his Press, (New India Press)•with those of the mill operatives in question." I can safely take up the challenge. My men love me as the labourers of Carnatic, Buckingham or Choolai Mills do not love their superiors. My men feel and are treated as members of a family, are not kicked, Decked or abused as you often complain to me. They have not the soul-killing terror en veloping them day after day. The treatment accorded to them is one of respect for human brothers, divine in their nature, however low their stage of evolution may be. That is the difference, and if Mr. Symonds and his European assistants bebaved like gentlemen towards these labourers and treated them as brothers as my New 'India men are treated,
