"At the end of the year the whole situation will be reviewed. The War Wage will have to be looked at in the light of the then cost of living, and the circumstances of the time generally, and it will be open to the men to ask for a revision of the new standard rates (i.e., a further transfer from War Wage to permanent rate) if they think a case can be made for it. But the anomalies of varying pay for similar work, under similar conditions, will have been removed, and future negotiations will be rendered much easier through there being only one set of figures to work upon."
Certain agreed interpretations of this agreement had been arrived at in August, but throughout the month of September Mr. Thomas had found it impossible to induce the Government to recognise the principle of standardisation upwards for all the grades in the N.U.R., as had been conceded in the case of the A.S.L.E. & F. There was talk about getting the wage level down, and of elaborate preparations by the Government during many past months for a strike. In a statement issued to the public on Tuesday, September 21st. Mr. Thomas said:
"The position, in my opinion, is so serious and the danger so imminent that I would be wanting in my duty to the public, the Government, and our members in the country, if I did not frankly say that we are rapidly approaching a crisis.
"It will be remembered that following the settlement of February, when the existing War Wage was being considered, an agreement was arrived at which stabilised the existing wage until December, with a proviso that would enable both sides to negotiate a basis of standardisation for all grades. It will be obvious from our side—and, indeed, it was fully recognised by the Government in the interviews we had—that the basis would be in an upward direction.
"Long and protracted negotiations have taken place. A settlement was arrived at in our locomotive section, which did recognise this principle, but to our amazement the proposals for the whole of the other grades, which are now before us, reverse this policy.
