LABOUR IN MADRAS 69 ing about your condition. In all your sufferings you are at least giving one great proof to your countrymen, who are fighting for the political liberty of the Motherland, that what we have been saying is true and what the Government officials have been asserting is false. But above all earthly Governments is the Government of God Himself, and I assure you that in the just and righteous struggle that is taking place, God's blessing is on you, though it is perhaps teaching you through suffering to be united, to stand firm, to carry on the war which you have been carrying on for peaceful purposes. If the Mills are not opened toʻmorrow morning then we will meet again at 4 in the evening and I will report to you the progress that has been made during the 24 hours. On December 4th another meeting was held ; about 9,000 people were present. Mr. Wadia presided and made the following speech : I am sorry I was not able to be present yesterday afternoon as an important Committee meeting kept me away. But I have not been idle either yesterday or today. I have been busy doing the work on behalf of the Labour Union as I shall show you when I speak to you just now. You remember that the day before yesterday we passed a resolution asking the citizens of Madras to help us with relief fund. I am glad to say that subscriptions are coming in and though they are slow they are coming in steadily. I do not want to announce either to-day or on any of the future days the amount of money that we are collecting ; and I will tell you why. In the great war that has just
