One Hundred Years Ago. Nothing Changes.Railways Bill.

House of Commons.(march 1913 railways(no.2) Bill. Mr Keir Hardie,"What right has this House to assume that the increasing of wages is going to add to the cost of working the railways? Take for example the tramway systems of Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London, and it can be shown that just as the rates of pay to the men increase and the working day is reduced, so do the profits increase. That is the outcome of actual experience. Low paid men cannot be expected to give good work. Men who are getting 15s,16s,or 17s a week have not the stamina to give good work, and they have not the spirit.Besides, the railway companies have already taken good care to recoup themselves for any increase in expenditure. Excursion rates are being raised, and the season tickets have gone up. The size of trains is being increased and altogether railway companies, partly by increased fares,partly by more efficient management and partly by co-ordination in connection with working arrangements which result in avoiding competition and also the running of four trains at the same time covering the same area, are, I believe recouping themselves for any increase caused by improved conditions of the men. Therefore the alleged case for this Bill entirely fails.