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/328

 was for new permanent rates which would be virtually on the level of the existing earnings without overtime that is the old standard rates, plus 33s. War Wage.

On September 19th the first proposals arrived, which did not give effect in any shape or form to the principle conceded in the case of the drivers and the firemen, and in the letter accompanying it Sir Auckland Geddes said:—

"'I trust your Executive will realise that this will be a very heavy burden for the railways of this country to stand, and I therefore wish you to understand that the proposals contained in the attached memoranda are not put forward as a basis of negotiations, but as the definitive offer of the Government.'"

In his immediate reply to this letter, Mr. Thomas said the terms proposed could not form the basis of a satisfactory settlement. On September 23rd, other proposals were submitted, but again they did not concede the principle applied to locomotivemen.

The Cabinet had for weeks been quietly preparing its plans for such an event. A full Cabinet meeting was immediately held, attended by Earl Haig, Major-General Fielding, the Minister of Food, the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Transport, the Minister of War, and others. All military leave and demobilisation was suspended, and armed protection was guaranteed for the running of trains. The Food Ministry imposed the strict rationing of meat, bacon, and margarine, the sugar ration was reduced by half, hoarding beyond one week's supplies was made illegal, and the public meals allowance revised. It was arranged to commandeer motor and horse-drawn vehicles as required, and Hyde Park, London, was at once transformed into a huge garage.

There was an enormous gathering of railwaymen of both societies at the Mass Meeting held in the Royal Albert Hall on the first night of the strike. Mr. Cramp presided, and detailed statements were presented by Messrs. Thomas and Bromley. In the course of his address, Mr. Bromley said:—

We have just made, in conjunction with the N.U.R., a settle-