to negotiate re military matters, truce arrangements, National Programme, and new machinery. The Craft Union Committee was awakening to the need for similar action, and there was preparation for a substantial forward movement.
The Negotiating Committee had met the Railway Executive on July 24th, and in the next two days visited the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Labour. In each case the great seriousness of the situation was pointed out, because the members were solid against compromise. Next, the chairman of the Railway Executive was again interviewed, and he suggested an increase of wages for the war period, but not the eight hours day. Both he and the Board of Trade were told the Committee would remain in London until a settlement was reached. At a meeting between the Railway Executive and the Society's representatives on August 1st, the eight hour day was fully debated, but the Railway Executive expressed itself unable to agree. Again they offered to consider an arrangement for increased wages in place of the existing bonus, as Sir Herbert Walker had suggested, but this was not acceptable, and the Conference terminated, as the Railway Executive said an insistence on the eight hours day would become a subject for other Government departments. The General Secretary therefore visited the Board of Trade on the same day, and as a result met Sir Albert Stanley, the President, on August 2nd. Communication remained continuous until August 9th, when the sub-committee twice visited the Board of Trade, and told Sir Albert Stanley of the serious danger of any failure to reach agreement.
Finally Sir Albert Stanley, having consulted the War Cabinet, made the following statement on behalf of the Government:—
"That the Government could not under the circumstances consider the principles of the eight hour day at present, inasmuch as this was not a question arising out of the war, and was generally recognised as unworkable under existing conditions. The present system of railway control would, however, continue for some time after the war, so that there was an opportunity of raising and dealing with the question of hours after the conclusion of peace.
