64 Timeiiri. 



" The Indian Immigration has a two -fold effect. It has admittedly 

 supplied labour which could not be obtained in sufficient quantities from 

 other sources." But we are also told by more competent witnesses that 

 according to their observation, in British Guiana and the West Indies, 

 at all events, the thrifty and persevering habits of the Indian Immigrants 

 have had an educative effect, perceptible, though gradual on those among 

 whom he has come to live and that his example and his competition have 

 introduced new habits of industry and improved methods of Agriculture.' 



Indian Immigration has undoubtedly proved the salvation of the 

 colony. 



Let us imagine what the condition of the Colony would have been 

 without Indian Labour. 



Intoxicated with a sense of liberty and released from a state of brutal 

 serfdom, with its attendant degrading and dehumanising concomitants, the 

 thought of submitting himself to any form of indenture howevei attractive 

 the conditions, would have been scornfully thrust aside by the Negroes 

 and the sugar industry, the success of which depended absolutely 

 on a regular and continuous supply of labour would have crumbled to 

 nothingness. 



Trade as a consequence would have suffered. Our Coast-lands would 

 have lapsed into howling wildernesses and the population be reduced to low 

 water mark. Our rice industry, which is bringing such handsome revenue 

 to the Colonial exchequer, and fast becoming our staff of life, would have 

 been an unknown quantity. 



Labour in relation to the industries is like fuel to an engine and 

 without a dependable supply of labour such as that provided by Indian 

 immigration the whole economic fabric of the colony would have 

 collapsed like a pack of cards, and the appelation of magnificent as 

 applied to the colony and which it at present has not fully merited, would 

 have been a sarcasm and a misnomer. 



As a community we feel we have reached the turn of the tide not 

 only in our life in the colony but in the history of our race and country, 



India has played a worthy part in the great conflict of nations and 

 has helped in no small measure to roll back the tide of anarchy and 

 barbarism that was threatening to engulf the world. 



By virtue of her loyalty to the throne, in its hour of gravest peril, 

 •he has been admitted to the Councils of the Empire. 



Through the recommendations made in the Montagu-Chelmsford 

 Report on Indian Constitutional Reforms, India can now look forward to 

 a larger measure of self -government and greator freedom in determining 

 her own affairs. 



