Page:Labour in Madras.djvu/72

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
46
LABOUR IN MADRAS


6 o'clock and wished to know what their next move should be, if they were not admitted into the Mills even at 6 o'clock. Mr. Wadia told then that their preparedness to attend at 6 A. M. would be communicated to the Mill agents that evening and if they were not admitted, they might gather at their place of meeting when what their next move should be would be considered and decided upon. According to the advice of Mr. Wadia the workmen presented themselves before 6 A. M. at the Mill's gates but still the lock-out was continued. Mr. B. •P. Wadia was then telephoned for by the labourers. Mr. Wadia arrived and informed them that Mr. Alexander, had last evening said to one of the representatives of the Labour Union that the case of the labourers will be considered if 16 of them--8 to represent each mill — would go to him this morning at 7 A. M. The meeting of the Labour Union elected the representatives accordingly and deputed them to meet Mr. Alexander. These men discussed matters with him and were told to be present at 6 A. M. to-morrow, when the gates would be open. At 3-30 P. M. a meeting of the Labour Union was held. About 3,000 people who lived nearer the meeting place than the rest were present and cheerfully acquesced in their President's injunction that they should be early enough at the Mills next morning to be able to be in by six. Mr.Wadia addressing the meeting said: MY BRETHREN,—You are all aware of what happened this morning. At our Labour Union Meeting we elected 16 representatives to go to the employers to