When the debate was resumed on Monday, the Attorney- General
assured the House that- the power of the Ministry of Transport to interfere with the railway companies was strictly limited, and that the shareholders would be protected against arbitrary interferences. Colonel Mildraay, a director of the Great Western Railway, said that the companies were prepared to accept the settlement, though they disliked some details. He did not believe that the railwaymen ever wanted to elect directors. If the Government tried I to upset the bargain by which the railway UlliODEI abandoned the claim to elect workmen directors in return for a liational Wages Board, the companies must oppose the Bill. It had been agreed, he said, that the railwaymen should not strike without due notice, allowing the Wages Board a month in which to consider any dispute. Mr. Henderson declared that the railway unions really desired
workmen directors, and that the question ought to be raised In Committee. Sir Erie Geddes replied that the unions had made their decision, and that the bargain ought to be upheld. Mr. Clynes's amendment was rejected by 259 votes to 65, and the Bill was read a second time.
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