Mr. Balfour's answer to the delegates was at once sympathetic
and firm. He agreed that English work- men could do in eight hours what Continental workmen did in twelve, and that in many cases shorter hours did not involve diminished output ; but he dreaded the "rough" process of legislation, under which distinctions were impossible, and weak trades might be crushed. He feared even more than the Premier the effect of handi- capping competition, not only with foreign countries, but as between localities in our own country possessed of advantages, and localities not possessed of them. Factories in the latter might be shut up, and then the total supply of employment would be reduced, not increased. He should prefer the use of almost any other agency than the Legislature. The delegates were, of course, unconvinced, the President of the London Trades' Council in particular remarking that they "had con- sidered the economic question and fought out all the arguments ; " but they expressed themselves fully satisfied with the manner of their reception.
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