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26 serious hindrance to you, though you did not like the movement. From your second talk at the Mills I feel that you look upon them very gravely. Let me at the outset assure you that I am absolute ly at one with you, that whatever else happened to the labourers, they must not be allowed to interfere with the munition work in which they are engaged at your two mills. I have therefore taken steps to enquire into the nature of the grievances of the labourers, and I am narrating to you vyhat I have been told. As to the general excellent condition of your mills, sanitary and otherwise, I have nothing but praise. I have not inspected many mills, but of all those I have, there is no doubt in my mind that yours afford facilities and comfort to the labourers that others do not I propose here to give you the more important of the grievances, and shall thank you if you will let me know how you propose to deal with them. If these can be solved in any satisfactory way, I am prepared on my side to persuade the labourers not to hold meetings during the War; at any rate I will not address them myself while the War lasts. 1. The midday recess hour of 40 minutes should be made a full hour. The labourers work for 12 hours at a stretch from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M. and 40 minutes' recess is very little. Your recreation grounds, nightschool, etc., would produce better results if the working hours were shortened ; but I can understand that you may not like to reduce the working hours while you have on band war contracts. Therefore if you can make the midday recess to full one hour, you will be able to meet the labourers' wish to a great extent.