29

CHAPTER II1. ’
Lack of adequate communications prevented an easy flow of labour,
and lack of general contact with, or knowledge of, the cities was an
even greater obstacle. In some areas recruiting was confined to a few
villages where connections had been established, adjacent villages making
no contribution. Finally, conditions in most centres were not calculated
bo attract labour or to retain it. As we have indicated, they are far
from ideal to-day ; but to the factory worker of the present time the
conditions in which his father worked would seem intolerable.
Future Prospect.

Factory industry in India, as elsewhere in the world, is to-day
less prosperous than it has been. We believe that the check to
progress is temporary and {hat, given settled conditions, factory
industry has still a long period of expansion before it. Communi-
cations have improved steadily and should advance much further.
The spread of knowledge is opening up new ground for possible
recruits, while there is at present little sign of a diminution in the pressure
on the land. Lastly, and most important of all, conditions in factories
are improving generally. We believe that the amelioration which has
been effected since 1920, by legislative and other methods, has had
a large share in producing the change which has occurred. If our
analysis of the factors concerned is accurate, Indian factories are at the
beginning of a period of plentiful labour. Grave calamities, such as
a serious epidemic, might produce a temporary reversal of the position ;
but, in normal circumstances, there is little likelihood of a shortage of
labour in the near future in perennial factories.

Eftect on Labour.
It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of the change. In
the past the employers’ powers were strictly limited. The necessity
of keeping their factories staffed has led some employers to do much
for the welfare of labour, in the provision of housing and other bene-
fits; it has also compelled them to tolerate much in the form of low
efficiency and slack discipline. The new conditions, if maintained,
will give to the employer a greater power, for good or for ill, than
he has had in the past. At the same time they will deprive labour of
what has hitherto been its main defence against oppression. While
the employers will be able to insist on higher standards, the workers,
if they are to maintain their position, will require to conform to these
and to show more self-reliance and greater cohesion. Further, the
new situation is bound to raise new problems for all concerned in ques-
tions of labour administration, and to demand the adoption of a new
attitude and new methods.
Recruiting of Labour,

So far as recruiting is concerned, recent years have seen a great
alteration. When the shortage was acute, the employer had to send
into the highways and byways to obtain workers. Overseers, labour
rontractors and others, stimulated thereto by promises of commissions