140 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL, XIII, 



Works) ; work will be more active and more careful because more 

 directly interested, economy and sound work will be more practised 

 because they spell larger profits and therefore a larger bonus. 



232. But Indian factory labour has serious disadvantages, mostly 

 due to climate, heredity, and Indian conditions. It is slow, as 

 might be expected in a tropical, enervating climate, nor do 

 increased wages give commensurate increase in output, but tend to 

 more frequent holidays ; nothing, not even rewards, will induce 

 solderers to turn out more than a moderate number of sealed cans 

 such as. in a French factory under piece work, would be derisible. 

 Labour, even superior, is apt to be slack ; work which should be 

 done by the superior or expert is apt to be turned over to the 

 ignorant or half-trained hand with disastrous results ; matters are 

 put off till 'tomorrow' and forgotten; rules carefully based on 

 common sense, knowledge, and experience are followed for a 

 while, but their observance then tends to slacken and gradually 

 disappear in favour of old, slack, stupid methods ; the ' nitchevo ' 

 (' never mind ') temperament breeds negligence, and ignorance 

 leads to the strangest errors ; rules are adhered to because they 

 are ' orders ' although the conditions may be totally changed, 

 or a matter is neglected because there was no specific order. 

 Hence the watchful presence of the master or manager must be 

 continuous. 



But given such master, one kind but firm, ready to explain 

 reasons but insistent on reasonable obedience, educating his 

 superior staff in the principles underlying practice, sympathetic 

 with their difficulties whether in or out of the factory, and Indian 

 (Madras) labour is pleasant to deal with, when due allowance is 

 made for the fact that it works under Indian conditions which lack 

 the industrial organization and traditions and habits of temperate 

 climates and competitive business. Practically every worker in the 

 Government cannery has been trained therein, and the superior 

 staff has remained throughout. 



233. Holidays are rather troublesome, partly owing to the' 

 admixture of castes and creeds. Christian holidays including all 

 Sundays, are generally granted, though necessary work such as 

 cleaning up after late operations on the previous day, is done ; but 

 to these are added very numerous Hindu and Muhammadan 

 holidays. Probably 250 days per annum form a possible working 

 year. 



