Stephen Johns Middleton Political discussion is high point of Pageant rehearsal

THE MIDDLETON Pageant team ha: out of its second crucial rehearsal with core of youth and workers determined the campaign through to the end.

Slowly, out of argument, repetition and sheer determination to fight, the history of the Peterloo Massacre and the dawn of the Chartist movement is coming to light in north Manchester.

It's always a struggle. In the concert room ton Labour Club, it is hard to imagine the field where tens of thousands of north-west workers turned out in 1819 to hear 'Orator' Hunt, the Preston radical, demanding the right to vote for the multitude before him.

The young worker-actors gathered around in a circle.

'Imagine the banners,' directed Corin Redgrave pointing to the left, 'the contingent from Rochdale, with slogans demanding one-man, one-vote. Uver there Stockport, demanding a political voice for the working class'.

The young worker who is playing Hunt for the night begins his address waving his hand to the crowd.

So the rehearsal continues. The scene is gone over time and time again from Hunt's speech to the moment the cavalry charge and cut down the crowd. With practice, the shyness and hesistancy vanish, voices get bolder as the people put into this decisive episode of working-class history what they see about today's fight against the Tory government.

Next the Chartist episode is rehearsed. The Chartist leader Julian Harney speaks Anti-'terrorist' training for Terriers COUNTER-'terrorist' training must become an integral part of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve training programme, says a Conservative Political Centre booklet, published yesterday.

Commenting on interFood prices up 25p.c.with Vatflation to come FOOD PRICES have risen by 25 per cent since the last General Election on June 18, 1970, it was revealed in the House of Commons.

And Tory Agriculture Minister Mr Joseph Godber admitted next month • was bound to show some further additional increase.

He said the price rises were substantial and serious, but claimed they were outside the government's control. nal security, the booklet -In Defence of Peace', says intelligence services should also be improved.

"The armed services must be provided with sufficient unsophisticated equipment for the task and more effective nonlethal deterrents are re'They are due almost entirely to increases in world prices of meat and cereals, he said. VALUE added tax, due to be introduced in Britain on April 1, could cause the rate of country Denmark France Germany Netherlands Luxembourg Belgium to a torchlight procession gathered on the moor.

He tells the crowd they are many, the power is theirs if they stand together and fight for the charter.

The Charter, the Charter, the Charter', the 15 or so people at the rehearsal shout out the battle-cry of the early pioneers-some instinctively raise their arms in clenched fist salute.

The scene went well.

People are beginning to get the feel of what Chartism meant in the 1830s and what it means today.

As always a night's work ends with a discussion. Here the most vital aspect of the Manchester campaign is revealed-its politics.

At first there was a fear that it would be hard to introduce the politics of today. People might see a recreation of the past merely as an interesting episode of But the opposite occurred. The discussion always starts from present experiences— the struggles in the factories against the Tories and how the Manchester team can show workers today how to defend their rights.

come a hard to see MiddlePeterloo PRESS roduction 3.7.67 1.1.68 1.1.68 1.1.69 1.1.70 1.1.71 quired to deal with internal security situations' The booklet also recommends that boys wishing to join the services under the age of 16 should be allowed to do so, in spite of the raising of the schoolprice increases to triple in the three months following its introduction.

The latest 'Barclays Bank Review', under the heading 'Vatflation', gives figures for the VAT Later one young actor a motor mec. lanic -said he was in the car npaign because he wanted to change today's situation.

The Tory government is getting away with murder. Somehow we have to show peopie what to do about it. I think these struggles Iron the past we are showing in the Pageant will be very important.' Support is building up. The team spent a day going out to the workers in Manchester getting them to back their efforts, take part if possible, and buy tickets for the Empire Pool.

Yesterday morning they were out at 7.00 a.m. at the Quarterly increase in onsumer prices (%)

1.67 6.56 0.89 1.77 4.72 0.68 2.35 0.54 1.39 Bradford chester s alambassLater a drive leaving age.

The Tories are rapidly developing their militarypolice force, along the lines the hated French CRS, in preparation for imminent class battles-'internal securit!' in the words of the bor klet. effects introducing VAT in six Common Market countries.

The figures demonstrate that the introduction of VAT was everywhere followed by a sharp increase in prices. works, Man- Above: The crowd cheer 'Orator' Hunt in the -1.. Middleton rehearsals. Below: Director Corin Redsupply piant. and sunsins was made at the dole, then the team moved on to hospital workers to encourage them to play a part.

Todmorden Trades Council has donated £15 and set up a Pageant committee. It will be sending a delegation to Wembley. More money will be raised when the team speaks to Manchester ambulance workers at the main Sellevue depot.

'It's taking shape now,' said Corin : Redgrave. 'But it's only the political discussions ana tne ngnt to understand today's situation hat keeps it going.' BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR EMPIRE POOL NOW DEFEND ALL DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS Defend trade unionism and basic living standards Unite in action to make this Tory government resign to power is through the building of the revolutionary YOUNG SOCIALISTS AND SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE A PAGEANT OF HISTORY-THE ROAD TO WORKERS POWER EMPIRE POOL, WEMBLEY. SUNDAY MARCH 11 SUNDAY MARCH 11th 3pm PAGEANT•RALLY• CONCERT I would like to' take part in the Pageant/come Please send me further detalls.

NAME.

ADDRESS......

of tickets rèquired ...... enclosed plete form and return t pant Office, 34 Hamilton