Page:Engines and men- the history of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen. A survey of organisation of railways and railway locomotive men (IA enginesmenhistor00rayniala).pdf/164



Movements sanctioned or commenced by either Society before the formation of the Federation shall not be subject to the above rules, excepting Clauses E and F.

No agreement entered into at this Conference shall be binding until it has been submitted to the Societies and voted on. If the voting is successful, then the agreement shall be signed by the General Secretaries of both Societies.

A combined meeting of the Executives must be held once in every twelve months, to discuss and decide on the policy to be pursued on points both labour and political, and members of both Societies shall be at liberty, on production of Branch Cards, to enter either Branch-room in any town, and to take part in any discussion appertaining to labour or politics.

Mr. W. G. Loraine had presided at the Conference referred to, held at the invitation of the A.S.R.S. Neither side had any fixed proposals, and the A.S.R.S. sought amalgamation, which the Associated could not discuss. The 1900 Scheme of Federation was the basis of discussion, and adopted with slight alterations. It would be advantageous to trace a little further the history of this movement now. On May 10th of 1904 a joint meeting of the two E.C.'s was held to consider a national programme, and it was thought advisable to refer it to a joint meeting of loco, men, for them to elect delegates to a conference summoned to draft such a programme. On October 9th of the same year a joint meeting of the two E.C.'s was held under Clause J of the Federation Scheme. There was discussion and resolutions on organising loco. men, a national programme, and on the Enginemen's Certificate Bill, which Mr.