Late in the year 1913 the Board of Trade wrote inviting suggestions from the Society for the prevention of railway accidents, Branches were communicated with at once, to secure all possible suggestions, and a deputation appointed to meet the Board of Trade, consisting of Messrs. G. Wride (who was re-elected President for 1914), Oxlade, Shipley, Stevenson and Moore. The points to be emphasised by this deputation were: (1) Heavy loading: (2) Better brake power; (3) Efficient signalling; (4) Timing of trains; (5) Practical locomotive men as Board of Trade Inspectors; (6) The impracticability of Rule 55. The Inquiry was proceeding, and evidence had been partly taken, when the European War broke out in August of 1914, and all proceedings were suspended for its duration.
In November of 1913 the N.U.R. gave notice of a desire to terminate the Conciliation Scheme of 1911, and the A.S.L.E. & F. sent in notice to secure amendments. In reply to these notices the companies appointed a Special Committee of seven members to meet the Societies jointly, an important action, because hitherto, except for urgent matters, on the North Eastern and Great Western lines, the companies had evaded direct recognition. The Executives of the two Societies met jointly to arrange a common policy, the points submitted being:-
Upon questions Nos. 2, 3, and 4 there was agreement, but on No. 5 the Conference broke up. It was the justifiable insistence by the A.S.L.E. & F. for a separate Board on each railway for locomotivemen, and the disagreement of the N.U.R. was complete. The Society has always recognised the important value attached
