John R. Raynes

“ Action was instantly taken by the Society's solicitors, and the "Daily Express," along with one or two journals which followed it, issued an apology and letter of explanation. The simple fact was that the Annual Report showed for the first time a deficit, which was £16,000, and the simple explanation was that the miners' strike of 1912 had cost the Society £24,000 in out-of-work pay, while the balance on the ordinary work of the year was £8,000. It had nothing whatever to do with the Secretary's illness and absence. ”

“ It was the justifiable insistence by the A.S.L.E. & F. for a separate Board on each railway for locomotivemen, and the disagreement of the N.U.R. was complete. The Society has always recognised the important value attached to the long years of experience and training which go to the making of a driver, whose position can in no sense be likened to that of the goods porter or drayman. ”

“ The strike in Dublin also came into prominence in the Society, for several of the Welsh members refused to handle "blackleg" traffic. Engineman G. James, who felt very keenly the events transpiring in Dublin, refused on November 7th of 1913 to shunt a train partly composed of Dublin traffic, while he was occupied in shunting at Llandilo Junction. He was sent to the loco. depot, and on again reporting for duty he was suspended for ten days and sent home. On November 17th he was paid a week's wages in lieu of notice. ”

“ Fox in his illness, and knowing he had also been worried by domestic troubles, we cannot allow his illness and other troubles to destroy the efficiency of the organisation. In these circumstances we were compelled to remove him as aforesaid stated."
That notification was, in fact, a patient and very guarded statement of the difficulties caused for the Executive. Mr. Fox had been a most strenuous, able, and earnest worker for the Society, but he lacked the gift of directing others to share the burden of great administration. ”

“ Reynolds then decided to report for duty, but on doing so was told his services were no longer required. This looked like victimisation, and Driver Squance led the strike previously decided upon to challenge that arbitrary attitude. Complete reinstatement was secured, and views expressed about the limits of the sympathetic strike method. Generous funds were also raised by the Society and its members for the Dublin strikers. The Executive first contributed £200 and then £100 weekly until it sent £1,400, supplemented by over £600 given by the members in separate branch efforts. ”

“ Efficient signalling; (4) Timing of trains; (5) Practical locomotive men as Board of Trade Inspectors; (6) The impracticability of Rule 55. The Inquiry was proceeding, and evidence had been partly taken, when the European War broke out in August of 1914, and all proceedings were suspended for its duration.
In November of 1913 the N.U.R. gave notice of a desire to terminate the Conciliation Scheme of 1911, and the A.S.L.E. & F. sent in notice to secure amendments. ”

“ J. H. Thomas, M.P., P.C., and the Executive cannot now conclude settlements without the sanction of a General Meeting.
Late in the year 1913 the Board of Trade wrote inviting suggestions from the Society for the prevention of railway accidents, Branches were communicated with at once, to secure all possible suggestions, and a deputation appointed to meet the Board of Trade, consisting of Messrs. G. Wride (who was re-elected President for 1914) , Oxlade, Shipley, Stevenson and Moore. The points to be emphasised by this deputation were: (1) Heavy loading: (2) Better brake power ”