328 CHAPTER XVII
recommendations for all unions, but put forward a few suggestions to
illustrate our meaning. An extension of the co-operative movement by
the agency of trade unions seems to offer a genuine opportunity in some
centres. The provision of co-operative credit and the maintenance of
co-operative stores, if properly managed, would advance the economic
position of the members. The need of education is universal, and the
provision of adult education in small circles would be valuable in itself
and would bring strength to the movement. The opening of a reading
room where there would be available both books and men to read them
aloud has distinct possibilities. Benefit funds are rare, and, though we
recognise the difficulty attendant on the raising of any appreciable sums
from Indian workmen, we feel that many could be persuaded to subscribe
to a fund designed to furnish death benefits. In some industries, the
Workmen’s Compensation Act provides a useful field of activity. Some
unions have entered this field, but the movement as a whole has not
realised the possibilities in this direction. Possibly the only union with
an elaborate range of welfare activities is the Ahmedabad Textile
Association to which we have already referred. This is reported to
maintain two dispensaries and a hospital equipped for surgical work, with
accommodation for thirty indoor patients. The expenditure on this
work is in the neighbourhood of Rs. 10,000 annually. The Association
maintains 23 schools, which in 1928 had 1,458 boys and 76 girls. The
cost in that year was Rs. 36,000 and the Association also carried on two
boarding schools maintained by subscriptions from other sources. The
social betterment department of the union supplements the work of the
schools by conducting evening classes in chawls to teach workers reading
and writing. The union maintains a library and a reading-room for the
benefit of its members. There are also travelling libraries containing
several boxes of books which are circulated from centre to centre. Among
the union’s other welfare activities are four physical culture centres,
a volunteer corps, a cheap grain shop, restaurants, a savings bank and a
Cheap Loans Department. These are all carried on mainly from the
members’ subscriptions, which are collected by the mills. The millown-
ers until recently also made an annual grant to the Association for
educational purposes.
Present Leaders.
An equally urgent need is the development of leadership from
within the ranks of labour. At present the unions depend for their
leaders mainly on social workers, lawyers and other professional and
public men. A few of these have interested themselves in the movement
in order to secure private and personal ends. The majority, however,
are actuated by an earnest desire to assist labour. The work involves
much toil and many discouragements, is nearly always unpaid, and
brings more criticism than thanks. Our survey of the position will,
we hope, show sufficiently clearly how necessary the assistance of these
men has been in the past. The movement could not possibly have
reached its present stage without them, and for many years to come there
ie likely to be a useful field of service for all who are anxious to assict.