From The Hindu Archives, January 29, 1926: Staggering profits in Calcutta jute industry

London, Jan. 28: Weekly Forward states that the report of Mr. Johnston, M.P., and Mr. J. F. Sime, Secretary, Dundee Jute Workers Union, upon their recent inquiries into the jute industry in India declares that the profits of jute mills in Calcutta are staggering, the total gain of shareholders for the decade ending 1924 being 300 million sterling or 90 per cent per annum on capital.

The average wage of 300,000 workers is at present 12 1/2 sterling per annum. The report describes their housing conditions and says that the death-rate among children under ten years is 50 per cent. It speaks of the absence of even primary education among child-workers.