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/258

 I have also said that adequate machinery existed for dealing with any question of excessive hours or insufficient remuneration arising out of war conditions. On these two latter points I stated in my speech to the delegates that everything possible would be done by the Railway Executive Committee to reduce the long hours to the lowest possible minimum consistent with the absolute demands which are put upon the railways.

I have also stated that, insofar as I am aware, any demands which up to the present have been made for increased remuneration arising out of war conditions had been amicably adjusted, and I have no reason to doubt that any future demands would be dealt with in the same spirit.

I will use my good offices with the Railway Executive Committee to secure that they will see the men's representatives and discuss outstanding matters at the earliest moment, this week if possible.

Yours faithfully,

A. H. STANLEY.

This letter was a very broad hint of a concession of the eight hour day to be brought into effect at the cessation of hostilities, and as such it was wisely accepted by the Executive as a settlement of the crisis. Mr. Geo. Barnes, M.P., as a member of the War Cabinet, supported this view by his assurance:—"I convey to you the sympathy of the War Cabinet in what they regard as a perfectly justifiable demand under normal conditions and in normal times, and also the sympathy, as I know, of every member of the War Cabinet; and in the second place to assure you that all that Sir Albert Stanley has said will be carried into effect, literally and without qualifications, after the cessation of hostilities."

Let us continue this interesting story of the eight hour movement to its conclusion. The fourth and last Armistice, that with Germany, was signed on November 11th, 1918, and next day, November 12th, Mr. Bromley wrote to Sir Albert Stanley, demanding that the pledges of 1917 should be redeemed. There was