“My efforts,” said Erb proudly.
“You are mainly responsible then?”
“I don’t deny it.”
“I see,” said the Chief, slowly pulling the feathers from a quill pen. “My information was to that effect, but it is well to have it confirmed by you. Now look here, Barnes.” He took up the sheet of blue foolscap, with a change of manner. “The men ask for the removal of the van foreman. That suggestion will not be acted upon. If we were all to be allowed to choose our own masters we should be playing a nice topsy-turvy game. You understand?”
“I’ve taken a note of it,” remarked Erb darkly. He wrote something with a short pencil on the back of an envelope. “Negative answer also, I s’pose, to the question of hours?”
“Not so fast. In regard to the question of hours some concession will be made. They have increased of late without my knowledge. The men will take it in turns, in batches of three or four, to go off duty at six o’clock one week in the month. This will necessitate a couple of extra carmen.”
“Good!” approved Erb, making a fresh note. “We now approach the question of wages.”
“The men who have been in the service for five years will receive an additional two shillings a week.”
“That’s a fair offer.”
“The men who have been with us for more than a year will, with one exception, receive an increase of one and six.”