244 RAILWAY RATES AND COXDITI 



The Railway Association, however, with scant courtesy, 

 declined to arrange any meeting. 



On 6th November it was announced that the Government 

 intended to introduce a Railway Bill in the following year 

 to give effect to some of the recommendations of the Depart- 

 mental Committee of 1911, and of the Railway Conference 

 of 1909, so the Chamber's Bill then before the House of Lords 

 was withdrawn. 



The railway strike of this year was responsible for a 

 statement by the President of the Board of Trade (Mr. 

 Boston) on 24th October, in reply to a question from Mr. 

 Charles Bathurst, to the effect that in the Bill he intended 

 to introduce in 1912 it was proposed to make it clear that 

 " an increase in the cost of labour owing to improved con- 

 ditions for the staff would, if established, be a valid justifica- 

 tion for a reasonable increase of charges. 7 * This caused 

 considerable apprehension among traders, which events 

 showed was amply justified. 



The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (Steam 

 Vessels) Bfll was opposed by the Chamber and by the Mansion 

 House Association, on the ground that it contained clauses 

 authorising the company to enter into arrangements with 

 steamship companies respecting the carriage of goods. The 

 possession of such powers was calculated to facilitate the 

 giving of undue preference to foreign merchandise ; hence 

 the opposition, which was successful. 



1012. 



The Government introduced their promised Bill on 1st 

 April.. The Railway Committee reported at length on this 

 measure on 7th May, concluding with the statement that 

 although certain advantages were conferred by some of the 

 flamnpft, yet the principle of Clause 2 made it imperative to 

 oppose the Bfll uncompromisingly, unless it were drastically 

 amended. Other Associations and individuals came to the 

 same conclusion, and an unwontedly strong opposition wag 

 organised in the Commons, largely on the Government side 



