NO. 2(1921) REMARKS ON CANNING I3O 



It is also suggested that the side seams of bodies, rectangular or 

 cylindrical, should be of the locked (folded) class, which is not 

 only far more secure than the usual clumsy lap joint but saves 

 much solder. Key-opening cans are very desirable. 



230. Transport. — A broad gauge railway runs along the whole 

 coast, usually within a mile or two of the sea, from Tirur to 

 Mangalore (175 miles), and good roads run parallel to and at right 

 angles to the railway ; the main coast road runs largely between 

 the railway and the sea. The sea itself offers cheap and convenient 

 transport, since coasting steamers from Bombay to Ceylon, Calcutta, 

 etc., touch at several ports (Mangalore, Cannanore, Tellicherry, 

 Calicut) and country boats are everywhere numerous. The back- 

 waters also afford transport even by steam or motor launches, 

 as from Ponnani to Tirur railway station ; motor lorries are also 

 occasional as from Udipi (for Malpe) to Mangalore. Fish parcels 

 are accepted by the railway at half parcel rates. 



23T. Labour. — As elsewhere in India, labour charges are low as 

 measured in cash ; at Beypore, regular labour including solderers 

 may run from Rs, lO (boys) to Rs. 14 or Rs, 18 per month ; expert 

 labour (maistries, smiths, carpenters, mechanics, etc.) from Rs. 22 to 

 Rs. 78, and office staff at, say, Rs. 30 to Rs. 60 : all include special 

 post-war allowances for high prices. These are wages paid 

 monthly and all the year round in the Government cannery, with 

 pensions to the permanent staff ; in private canneries it is probable 

 that daily wages will be usual, only a nucleus staff being kept 

 throughout the year, and other labour called in as required. Daily 

 labour at the Government cannery runs about 8 annas for adult 

 males, 4 to 6 annas for adult females, and 2^^ to 4 annas for boys 

 and girls. Piece labour is only, occasional as in shelling prawns ; 

 it may become advisable in sealing packed cans as is done in 

 France. Labour generally is quiet, obedient, and tractable as well 

 as cheap and, in routine matters, follows fairly the accustomed 

 lines when under supervision : gutters and packers do very well 

 since the Indian workman is very deft-fingered. The people are 

 eminently responsive to kind but firm treatment ; they are very 

 human and will take advantage of weakness but respond readily to 

 kind masterfulness. 



It is suggested that labour, both superior and subordinate, will 

 be rendered far more efficient by the introduction of a ' bonus ' or 

 profit sharing system as in the Government cannery (and Soap 



