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.