Workers Press no. 790

workers press

SCANLON MAKESE

MORE LEFT NOISES

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • TUESDAY JUNE 13, 1972 • No. 790 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

AUEW AT HASTINGS

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

HUGH SCANLON yesterday continued the retreat of the trade union leadership before the Tories when he hinted at a possible deal with the government over new procedures to settle disputes.

In his presidential address to the Amalgamated

CONTAINERS

Union of Engineering Workers' annual conference in Hastings, Scanlon disguised an overture to the govern-

ROW

ment behind a barrage of militant phrases.

Court order against London After lengthy aaCK dockers blacking container the TUC's decision to abandon the policy of non-co-operation would hope that Lois stape we depot see p. 12. Relations a rate believe forbe a wong with the Industrial believe Act, he offered an olive branch

WHOME

General to the Tories. accision LaKen Ine Council in recent months." What Scanion? stopping The government. he said. was now advocating the virtues of Why wait three months to over- deci- counciliation machinery

LUTO

unconsuitutional of the Council solve mausual disoules which allowed co-operation with 'Certainly this is infinitely pre- to their previous policies, TeraDe At the May 4 General Council he added. move the that made this 11212| But if the new methods were unions who voted for an they would have 228,603 re-call were aLC independent of government. matori. Ana une delegates not sides voted against a special congress binding unless both agreed nor backed by the Indus- mostly- Scanlon noted were trial Relations Court. yesterday's * ГІПЕ- wingers who made little -had It is a contradiction for the secret of their desire to register under the Act. government aavocate _con- ciliation and at the same time to said. Since then the AUEW engin- With vehicle overture scanion cerne secuon. follows TUC general secretarv builders and a host of smaller who became an have gone on record of policy last demanding a re-call. weekend when he praised the Shop stewards meetings all government's decision to give cash to industry. the Over County nave dIso demanded that majority the Scanion has his 'left-wing' exercise their democratic reputation to guard and is there- and stop the abysmal fore more subtle. But a careful misers from wrecking the move- examination of his condemnation ment. of TUC policy reveals it as a "left' Beneath the tough phoney. Scanlon Darases. aavocates He charged the General Coun - wait-and-see attitude which gives cil with bifore the no'urt anni weil errak- 'undignified retreat' Tories three more months the to attack the trade union move 1OP 1 congress poncy laid down ment. Meanwnie ne spreads tre last September. chatter of voluntary conciliation through the movement. veiled attack on the

T&GWU,

TILBURY

dockers he spoke of. 'pressure Tory soft-soap about voluntary westeroas voted overwhelmingly to stage a affiliated from certall concillation coupled with te big one-day Wednesday to strike legal club is no contradiction Mr laced with injuncuons and unes, who were not prepared to make -it is intended to bring coincide with the docks delegate Scanlon- stand but decided conduct meeting. rade union leaders uke you to The themselves within the guidelines your knees. And on yesterday's docks delegates meet set by the Act. performance, the strategy seems tomorrow and Thursday decide whether to go ahead with to be working. But he made no call for emergency Congress to stop the

PAPERBACKS CENTRE

collapse before the Tories.

Instead he asked trade the until unions to wait September to ser une recora scalent.

28 Charlotte St *At the coming Congress of the TUC the General Council has to answer to the movement for its London W1 interpretation of Congress policy,' ne sala 'Our contention that a definite

BOOKS • PERIODICALS • NEWSPAPERS

retreat has been made from the policy decided by Congress be torcibly expressed there.

NE 13, 1972 • No. 790 • 4p

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

The Tilbury dockers vote for action Friday's planned national docks strike. Already dockers at Hull, Liver- pool and London have decided to lobby the docks delegates urging all-out strike action.

At yesterday's meeting at Tilbury Green, shop steward

NOW OPEN

Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 9 a.m. 6 p.m. Thurs 9 a.m.-7.30 p.m. Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tilbury one-day strike as dock delegates meet the Liverpool Harry Sage said shop stewards had been strongly critical of the lack of policy miltaney

CONCOD

In oppost- tion to the large number of men being returned to the unattached He said the Liverpool men attacked also the decision by docks delegates to postpone tne strike on a previous occasion.

At the end of his speech Mr Sage emphasized the strike Was not against the Industrial Kela- tions Act, though if the Act were used against dockers they would react very strongly. Manchester dockers have voted not to take part national one-das

LUHLOLLUYS

decision by a mass meeting of 1,100 dockers went against the recommendation of we shoD stewards

workers press

SCANLON MAKESE

MORE LEFT NOISES

INCORPORATING THE NEWSLETTER • TUESDAY JUNE 13, 1972 • No. 790 • 4p DAILY ORGAN OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

AUEW AT HASTINGS

BY STEPHEN JOHNS

HUGH SCANLON yesterday continued the retreat of the trade union leadership before the Tories when he hinted at a possible deal with the government over new procedures to settle disputes.

In his presidential address to the Amalgamated

CONTAINERS

Union of Engineering Workers' annual conference in Hastings, Scanlon disguised an overture to the govern-

ROW

ment behind a barrage of militant phrases.

Court order against London After lengthy on dockers blacking container the TUC's decision to abandon would hope the policy of non-co-operation lls stage we depot see p. 12. Relations a rated believe to he a wrong with the Industrial believe Act, he offered an olive branch to the Tories. General accision Laken Council recent months. What stopping Scanlon? The government. he said. was Why wait three now advocating the virtues months to over- counciliation machinery

TUTT

sion General Council solve industrial disputes.

which allowed co-operation with 'Certainly this is infinitely pre- to their previous policies,' teraore At the May 4 General Council he added. that move made This But if the new methods were unions who voted for an to succeed, they would have 28,60 re-call independent maoril. Amo me celecares Wine binding sides voted against a special congress nOT unless noth agreed nor backed by the Indus- Scanlon noted were mostly- trial Relations Court. vesterday's

SOCCCI

- 11211. wingers who made little It is a contradiction for secret of their desire to register CoveranCal aavocale Con- under the Act. ciliation and at the same time to he said. Since then the AUEW engin- Scanlon vehicle overture secuon.

TUC

builders and a host of smalles follows peera secretary Victor the tory who became an have gone on record advocate of policy last demanding a re-call. praised the Shop stewards meetings all government's decision give to also cash to industry. the count the over nave demanded that majority Scanlon has 'left-wing' exercise their democratic his reputation to guard and is there- and stop the abysmal more subtle. But a careful misers from wrecking the move- Lore examination of his condemnation ment. of TUC policy reveals it as a 'left' Beneath Scanion the tough phoney. barases. avocates He charged the General Coun.

• wait-and-see attitude which gives bil orette ourt and with with 'undignified retreat' the Tories three more months break- to attack the trade union policy laid Contress last September. chatter of voluntary conciliation through the movement. veiled attack on

TILBURY

dockers yesterday

T&GWU,

he spoke of 'pressure Tory soft-soap about voluntary voted overwhelmingly to stage a affiliated from certain conciliation coupiea wild lne big one-day strike Wednesday to on legal club is no contradiction Mr lacea with injuncuons and nines, coincide with the docks delegate who were not prepared to make Scanlon—it is intended to bring stand but decided to conduct meeting. made union cagers uke you within the guidelines The docks your knees. And on yesterday's delegates unemselves meet set by the Act'. performance, the strategy seems tomorrow and Thursday decide whether to go ahead with working.

LU UC

But he made no cal for emergency Congress to stop the

PAPERBACKS CENTRE

collapse before the Tories.

Instead he asked the trade September unions to wait until to ser mne recore suaicol.

28 Charlotte St 'At the coming Congress of the TUC the General Council has to answer to the movement for its London W1 interpretation of Congress policy, ne sala 'Our contention that a definite

• NEWSPAPERS

BOOKS • PERIODICALS

retreat led by coe gress the has policy decided Congress wal. be forcibly expressed there.

NE 13, 1972 • No. 790 • Ap

HE SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE

The Tilbury dockers vote for action Friday's planned national docks strike. Already dockers at Hull, Liver- pool and London have decided to lobby the docks delegates urging all-out strike action.

yestérday's meeting At at Tilbury Green, shop • steward

NOW OPEN

Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 9a.m.-6 p.m. Thurs 9 a.m.- 7.30 p.m. Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Harry Sage said the Liverpool shop stewards had been strongly critical of the lack of policy or militancy in London in opposi- tion to the large number of men being returned to the unattached register. He said the Liverpool men also attacked the decision by docks delegates to postpone the strike on a previous occasion.

At the end of his speech Mr Sage emphasized the strike was not against the Industrial Rela- lions Act, though if the Act were used against dockers they would react very strongly. • Manchester dockers have voted not to take part in tomorrow's national one-day strike. The decision by a mass meeting of 1,100 dockers went against the recommendation of the shop stewards.

Torture may be allowed by Ceylon 'Star Chamber' PAGE 2 Workars Presa, Tucoday Juno 8, 1 ENCOURAGED by direct rule.

and protected by the British army, the monster of sectarian strife has raised its ugly head in Ulster. After five weeks of demonstrat- ing, drilling and barricade- erecting under the benevolent eye of the Royal Ulster Con- stabulary and the army, counter-revolutionary Ulster Associațion showed Defence last Sunday what its real policy is by shooting a Catholic youth in the Ardoyne in cold blood.

This provoked a four-hour gun battle which No 2 Paras joined, to 'separate the ostensibly combatants'. Predictably all the casualties were on the side of the Catholics of the Ardoyne. When the battle more Catholic ended three workers lay dead-all presum- ably shot by the men who came to stop the fight! At the same time another IRA 'gunman'-since the Widgery tribunal it has become customary to assume most are 'gunmen'-was dead men killed by 'security' forces in another part of Belfast. Strangely enough this outbreak of Protestant-Orange Order violence followed a Vanguard rally in Banbridge, County Down, addressed by Enoch Powell, Brian Faulkner, and William Craig. Not so strangely though the events followed a recent TV interview by Craig '24 on Hours' when he justified the use of weapons-licensed and unlicensed-by the Protestants.

Powell, of course, counselled the to indulge in Protestants not 'violent acts', but many Catholics would no doubt want know what Powell to was doing on Craig's platform.

Whatever his reasons, it is un- mistakably clear that the Van- guard thugs, under cover of for the army to the demand fact preparing pogrom against the Catholic minority in collusion with the army. wil be more Derrys and There Catholic of the massacre workers will continue with the active assistance of Orange reactionaries. From this standpoint no credence on the UDA be placed can report that next weekend the barricades will remain even if it means a serious confront- ation with the army. of The army has no intention clashing with the UDA, which shares the army's hatred for Republicanism. CEYLON's Criminal Justice Commission, appointed to try people suspected of being involved in the 'Che Gueva- rist' rising in April 1971, had began its first sitting in Colombo yesterday. According to the Ministry of Justice 8,500 of the 14,000 young people arrested in the soli aftermath of the rebellion are still held in detention camps, in but the Ministry has yet to indicate how many of these will be brought before the Commission. The coalition government headed by Sirimavo Mrs Bandaranaike and backed by the pro-Moscow Communist Party revisionist and the renegade Samaja Party, Lanka Sama passed the Justice Commissions Bill earlier this year specifically duno 8, 1872 This hatred has no doubt been compounded by the news that Col Gaddafi of Libya has been supplying the IRA with arms.

Far from being a factor disrupt- 'pacifi- ing army plans for cation', the UDA's para- activities fit i n military perfectly with the army's counter-insurgency preparations for dealing with the Provisional

IRA.

They also serve as a trial exercise for future collaboration of the gun army, with such groups in Britain. That is provocation by the UDA, who despite intense 100 barricades in put up Belfast alone; the army took no action. The army's attitude was com- mented on with some astonish- ment by 'Scotsman' reporter in Belfast James Gray: 'Obviously police and troops were under strict orders to avoid a head-on clash with those on They have barricades. the stood back as hundreds of vehicles were hijacked to roads, not only in block but throughout the Belfast Province. ... The low-key approach certainly prevented trouble, but of their apparent success is campaign weekend this bound to give UDA greater major confidence for their effort.' ('Scotsman' June 12, 1972) Is there any need to contrast this with the army's handling of the post-internment situation in the Catholic ghetto? Behind the masks and the barri- cades of the UDA there is only one thing: an intense counter- revolutionary hatred of Repub- licanism which, in the parlance of the UDA leaders, is equated with socialism and communism.

There is nothing progressive about this Ulster version of the Ku Klux Klan. Its methods no less than its policies are and thoroughly repulsive brutally indifferent to working- class needs. Let the 'Scotsman' speak about the methods used by Craig's 'barricade builders': I heard the wife of one motorist plead that they had to get home to a young family miles from where they were stopped; but she was told to get out, or she would be dragged out.

of There were reports physically-handicapped people being ordered from their cars.

'A police officer told me a bus load of old-age pensioners were caught up in the turmoil as the detainees of their to strip legal rights. The Act was passed into law on April 18—almost exactly a year after the alleged offences had been committed. The parliamentary debate was perfunctory in the extreme and even the majority of Communist Party MPs refused to vote with the government. (The LSSP voted solidly for the Bill.) Yesterday, at the Queen's Club in Colombo-once the exclusive preserve of the European settlers the five Supreme Court judges , the Commission who make up took evidence from the Attorney- General to decide how many of the detainees are to be tried.

Those who do go before it will probably be charged with waging war against the government and • overthrow it by attempting to force of arms. Others charged with lesser offences will be tried by the normal courts. Cralg in London recently they returned from an annual Although frightened outing. of them and with some tears, they were turned off the bus.... The hospitals authority issued a special appeal to those manning the blocks to give ambulances free but passage; some ambulance drivers had to make long detours ..: ('Scotsman' June 12, 1972.) But the rise of the UDA is not due to any freak of history.

There is little doubt that the blind terror of the Provisionals and the needless suffering inflicted sections of upon bombing by the Protestants aided campaigns have the creation of this Frankenstein monster. At the same time the capitulation of the Official IRA and the Social Democratic Labour Party no less than the bank- • ruptcy of all Labour, national- ist, Stalinist and Republican to counterpose a groups revolutionary socialist altern- ative to direct rule and to fight for a genuine Constituent Assembly for Ireland, has assisted Craig enormously.

If Craig has won the support of a big section of Protestant working-class youth, he has done so by default. His success is due entirely to the absence of a revolutionary leadership.

task in Ulster-as in The Britain-is be mes- not to merized by the episodic success of the sectarian UDA monster, but to create the instrument which will one day break its neck — a revolutionary party based securely on uniting the Catholic and Protestant workers against the common enemy-British capitalism.

The Commission can impose a maximum penalty of life imprison- ment. The Commission has power far beyond any normal court.

They persons can summon before them without reference to charges and enforce attendance.

The hearings may take place in the absence of press or public or both. The normal rights of legal aid do not in practice apply.

Nor do normal rules of evi- admit any evidence which might dence: the Commission be inadmissible' in ordinary cívil or criminal proceedings, includ- ing la confession or other incri- whom- minatory statement to soever and in whatsoever circum- stances made. In other words, statements extracted under torture or simply fabricated by the authorities have other the same status as any evidence. To make quite sure this evidence is accepted, the AS MANY AS 5,000 innocen by American fire-power durin South Vietnam's Mekong Deli code-named 'Speedy Express'.

A reporter who has studied the campaign says it 'made the My Lai massacre look trifling by comparison'. Kenin P. Buckley, who has spent four Saigon for years in the magazine 'Newsweek', said Express' 'Speedy was

SIX-

month-long operation by the US Ninth Division in the Delta area.

The division claimed that 10,899 'enemy' were killed. But Buckley points out only 748 weapons were captured.

There is overwhelming evi- dence that virtually all the Viet- were well armed, Buckley cong says in an article just published, 'and the enormous discrepancy between the body count and the number of captured weapons is hard to explain-except by the conclusion that victims many were unarmed, innocent civilians.'

appalling Buckley says the civilian casualties were the result of huge US fire-power. He said that while 8,000 in- fantrymen were involved, ground contact with the enemy was rare.

• Thus the division relied largely defence is deprived of the right to cross-examine production wit- nesses. And in the unlikely event of acquittal the defendant can in any case be detained until the permanent secretary to the Mini- ster of Justice orders his release.

if convicted the defendant has no right of appeal. This Star Chamber parody of a court, which is quite plainiy a rubber-stamp for the police and the army, was created by a so- called 'left' government for the specific purpose of crushing left- wing opposition. It will not stop with the 'Che Guevarist' guerrillas of the m- People's Liberation Front, how- im- ever. The intended victims of this legislation are the workers and trade unionists of Ceylon, who are increasingly dis- becoming noW enchanted with a government which is an open agency of imperialism. innocent civilians were killed er during a 1968 campaign in ng Delta during an operation on its 50 artillery pieces, 50 helicopters and massive support. There were 3,381 air strikes by fighter-bombers, and Buckley quotes an old man as saying one "ploughed B-52 bomber attack up the earth' in his village-kill- ing many people. • The reporter says that Gen Creighton Abrams, the US com- mander in Vietnam, has refused to discuss the operation except to say 'the performance of the division has been magnificent'.

Seymour Hersch My Lai mass- the journa- list who broke the acre story, has now reported that a four-star general has been prematurely retired for carrying out unauthorized bombing raids over North Vietnam. Gen John Lavelle, who was re- tired last month, was the US Air Force commander in South-East Asia. Lavelle (55) is said to have ordered a large number of raids which he described to as small-scale protec- superiors tive reaction' strikes. investigating sub- A special committee of the House of Rep- resentatives armed services com- his began i hearings mittee on dismissal yesterday. This is be- lieved to be the first time that a US general has been demoted and sacked. But it is not the first time that a US general in Vietnam has engaged in bombing and killing has not been ordered by which either the Pentagon or the White House. been Since 1968 there have a number of reports-difficult to confirm — that generals have staged mini-revolts about SO- called lack of firmness by the politicians in prosecuting the war. Whatever happens to Lavelle, the generals have now effectively their point. won Neil Sheehan of the 'New York Times' has reported that US military leaders are now being permitted to wage the air war as they want in Indo-China- sealing off North Vietnam's coast and harbours with mines, fol- lowed by the 'systematic and relatively unrestrained' destruc- military and industrial tion of targets in the country. There restricted are zones around Hanoi and Haiphong as well as a so-called buffer area along the China border that is about 25 miles deep, Sheehan reports. On the other hand, the military commanders are free to strike designated targets within these areas at any time and as often as they want.

BY ALEX MITCHELL

THE RIGHT WING in Actors' Equity led by Marius Goring was com- at this pletely routed year's. anrual general meeting.. Goring and his followers had two resolutions on the order paper seeking crucial rule changes. They were both defeated overwhelmingly. Even the conservative Equity council was forced to declare itself and oppose the Goring moves. It was Goring's attempt to change the rules regarding the calling of special general meet- ings which came in for a par- ticular drubbing. The resolution put big a financial onus on those wishing to call the meetings and then left it up to the president to refuse the meeting in his opinion, the motion is frivolous, vexatious, unnecessary'. Opposing the resolution Stephen Sylvester, the retiring assistant general secretary, referred to some future president, possibly 'this expert, who might claim 'this divine right of presi- dent'. (Goring in a tele- stars vision series called "The Expert'.)

He said the effect of the rule change would be to hold mem- to 'punitive ransom'. He bers said the right to hold special general meetings was 'one of our most basic freedoms'.

The council believed that the members would throw out the Goring resolution. •We don't believe you are so gullible as to accept this, he said. 'We believe you will treat this motion as it so deserves.' In replying to the discussion, Goring was clearly conscious of the tide of opinion against him.

He said the council of the union—to which he has just been returned topping the poll-had 'twice impugned me' during the He said he very conference. much regretted this. When interrupted someone and said the vote would show • what members thought of his rule i Goring changes, snapped back: "The vote will show what meeting thinks —which is this very little' So much for trade union democracy Goring-style! was the debate on the nationalization of the industry which completely flushed out the right wing, the Stalinists and the revisionists. On behalf of 30 members, Malcolm Tierney moved that 'in view of the totally unacceptable level of unemployment and the continued contraction of theatres and studios, resolve, in we accordance with TUC policy on •the film industry adopted at the Blackpool conference, that the only solution to this crisis is the nationalization of the entire entertainments industry under workers' control without com- pensation to its former owners'.

THE Festival of Light is hold- ing its own pop festival this weekend in Chingford just North of London. It will, how- ever, be a festival with a. bei difference. The unique event was originally planned to take place on the Glebeland, Buckhurst Hill-which surrounds the home of Rector Rev Peter Casswell—on Spring Bank Holiday weekend, but the area was too small. Another park has been found and 'Christian young people' will, according to the programme, now attend a Youth for Jesus Festival.

There will certainly be pop groups, but it is emphasized that they will be Christian as well as i. i Goring sper Equity general secretary Gerald Croasdell attacked the resolution because he claimed it was 'wildly remote from reality'. Declan Mulholland, whois with the known to sympathize Communist Party, said the reso- lution 'failed to take into account the membership of this union'.

He said it was "pie in the sky' to suggest nationalization. He called for unity and a determined fight against un- employment by • the left, right and centre'. The resolution was defeated by 213 to 159 votes.

also introduced Tierney an emergency resolution calling for the union to terminate the new agreement with the BBC and to break off all contracts because of the BBC's latest policy of wage-cutting and speed-up.

Croasdell opposed the resolu- a possi- tion saying there was bility of a settlement. He said he had expressed the 'gravity of the situation' to the BBC and the BBC was 'considering the situation most urgently. The resolution was defeated 158 to 144 votes. The biggest blow to the right wing came in the discussion on the Industrial Relations Act.

The Equity • Council decided to register without the consent of the members a few months ago. This sparked such antagon- in the rank and file that a special general meeting was summoned at the Adelphi Theatre in The Strand. At this packed meeting a de- registration move was defeated by several hundred votes. During the subsequent referendum Equity members again voted to register. But at Sunday's meeting the mood of the membership showed a distinct change, which reflects very much the decisions by the industrial court on the railways and the docks and the belligerent attitude being adopted by the

BBC

The resolution, moved by Tom Kempinski, reaffirmed Equity's 'total opposition' to the Act.

being professional groups. The programme notes do not make what a Christian group clear sounds like. In addition to the music there will be lectures and discussions designed to 'examine and deepen faith' At Il p.m., when the activities finish the girls will be packed off in a barn while the boys sleep in marquees or their own tents.

Christ is certainly expensive this year. Tickets for the week- going at f1.50 a time. end are There is unlikely to be a black market. oring speaks It went on: 'We therefore call the council of Equity to on demand of the TUC that they carry out their responsibility or organize the entire trade union campaign movement in defeat the Act in its entirety to This resolution was passed by 330 to 200 votes. It was at this point, late in the afternoon, that the Goring crowd received their most telling setback. Sniffing the times, the ladies with the blonde rinses and furs started to move out of the theatre. : World's En CUBITT'S 'World's End' site in Chelsea was at a standstill yesterday as the entire 300- strong labour force struck for the reinstatement of three men. One of the sub-contracting firms on the site, Barcotts Ltd, has failed to apply a transfer clause in the site agreement whereby any man who is laid off for lack of work is the first to be taken back on when more men are needed again. Three carpenters were laid off three weeks ago, but last week Barcotts took on new men. Cubbitts appear to be supporting the firm in this stand. 'What is this if not victimiz- ation?' site asked convenor 'The Donald Quinn yesterday. firm have made no complaints about the men's work but they refusing to take them are on again. We are not going back till these men are back on the site?

other Cubbitts sites Two Surrey Lane and Mondial House -have promised support. Print union 'may have to stay on register'

AN INDUSTRIAL

BY

CORRESPONDENT

Print union delegates will be asked in a fortnight to recom- through the mend going motions of deregistering under the Industrial Relations Act.

But an emergency resolution to be the •e vared NaToNa Graphical Association's Scar- borough conference holds out ittie hope that the urol s ballic wik akka be deleteo Trom une register established by the Act. John Bonfield, genera secrerary of the 240,000-strong debate expects the on the issue of the most important Lo De one The Toree. vearv conterence With

NGA

it will structure, says, mave mie bredtes mundar on uac future of the association and its capacity defend and advance members' tulei cous The emergency resolution reports legal advice that the :Regi- Unions likely strar

OTI

lrade KoDerI Farquharson Keith, is to deregistration reject any move from the NGA. Non-registration fraught with both legat and financial union. One official Talstor the estimated recently it could cost it of thousands pounas a year in lax alowances In order to bring it formally ine with IUC Dolicy, with which all unions are supposed to com- by June 30, the NGA national ply council recommends the applica- ton to aeregister. World's End reinstatement fight

NO VI

World's End pickets stopping a lorry yesterday

BOOKS

ers Press, Tuesday June 8, 1972 PAGE 3 5... John Bonfield If carried, this recommendation will then go to a ballot vote of the entire membership. Only such a ballot can make a final decision.

Tories approve ships take-over THE government yesterday_gave Court Line's . for the go-ahead takeover bid for ship- £8m builders Doxford and Sunderland.

A statement from the Depart- ment of Trade and Industry said the deal would not be referred to the Monopolies Commission.

The "all-clear' decision follows the announcement last week having in- about Court. Line creased the terms of its offer and won the support of the Doxford directors. Court Line will out the formal docu- sending ments for its bid today. Moscow Trials Anthology Paperback, 62}p

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Death Agony of Capitalism (The Transitional Programme) Pamphlet 5p Class Nature of the Soviet State Pamphlet 20p In Defence of the October Revolution Pamphlet 15p The Theory and Practice of Revisionism Pamphlet 15p Postage 10p per book, 3p per pamphlet. Order from :

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PAGE 4 Workers Press, Tuesday June 13 The survival of British capitalism now depends on one thing: preventing the working class from mobilizing itself politi- cally to bring down the Tory government. The ruling class is very conscious of this and is bend- ing every energy to prepare to break the strength of the working class before this poli- tical mobilization can be achieved. The rple of centrism is to confuse and disarm the work- ing class and thus facilitate the preparations of the ruling class. For example, we find the International Marxist Group saying, on the one hand, 'don't vote Labour, they're no differ- , and on ent from the Tories', the other, 'don't devote so much time to atacking the re- formist and centrist leaders'.

In both cases it is a way of diverting the working class from the principal task of our the construction of epoch, alternative revolutionary leaderships successfully oppos- ing the reformists and Stalin- ists. Returning to Lenin's defini- tion of the political basis of working-class tactics, we must contrast the IMG line with the objective stage of development classes their of the and struggle in Britain, and the stage reached in relations between British capitalist society and the world situation of imperialism. these inter- Just when national developments — col- lapse of the Bretton Woods monetary system, accelerating trade war and slump, and be- hind all this the unbroken strength of the workers both in the advanced countries and the colonial countries - make it necessary for the British capitalist class to attack every basic right of the working centrist turns his class, the back on the defence of these rights and past gains. To the working class in Britain, now threatened with the transition to Bonapartism and disruption of parliamen- the tary democratic rights, these IMG centrist says: things are only reformist de- ceptions, pursue the economic struggle! Marxists, on the other pointed out hand, as Trotsky in a similar situation in France in 1935, fight to the working class strengthen by mobilizing it to defend every shred of democratic rights. Actually it has not taken long for history itself to prove our point against the IMG.

According to them, the SLL call for a Labour government coincides with the policy of Wilson and the trade union bureaucracy. We exposed this myth in an earlier article. But y June 13, 1972 now look at the bedfellows of the IMG! The IMG's National Com- mittee in its policy document states: "The task • of revolu- tionaries is to heighten the struggle by increasing at all times the tension between the Labour Party and the trade unions. Such an orientation is now summed up in the slogan "A workers' government based on the trade unions"' A few weeks after this circulated, document was Heath and Macmillan, building led • the on the assault by National Industrial Relations Court, belligerent made speeches (May 13) telling Feather and the TUC that the trade unions' connection with the Labour Party and politics could not be tolerated; they must not oppose Tory legisla- tion but must work in the same way whichever party is in power; their job to was look after the living standards of their members We can see clearly from this that the great thing to be avoided, so far as the ' Tory government is concerned, is the organized workers that should express themselves poli- tically through the demand: Make the Tories resign, return a Labour government. Heath the mildest attacks even TUC criticism of his new law, because he knows that behınd gesture of defiance even stands the threat of political mobilization of the working class. all a question, It is not at as the IMG claims, of the SLL equating Labour electoral a with the coming of victory socialism. Un the contrary, we have explained at every junc- ture that a Labour government brought into office by an anti- Tory mass movement would be situation, in entirely new an which the mass movement itself, and its direct relation in struggle with capitalist property and the capitalist machine, would pre- state dominate. The working class, in fact, would go through a rapidly changing series of experiences, with reverses as well as ad- in rejecting the vances, reformist traitors and creating organs of workers' power to resist and expropriate the em- ploying class. slogan of 'A

IMG

The workers' government based on the trade unions' is in practice a slogan to prevent the work- ing class from coming to grips with its political past, present and future, and so taking on the Tory government and the ruling class. This is the aim today of the of the centrist opponents Socialist Labour League. It is in this way that the differences political tendencies between represent life-and-death issues for the working class itself.

One final point is important.

In proposing these reactionary revisionists policies, the IMG go back to the origins of anti- Bolshevism. A good example of this comes from the docu- Lenin fought ideas of the IMG's type ment to which we have already referred, (produced by the Reading and North Hants IMG branch): 'Strip the SLL's formulas of their "left" verbiage and yoù are left with a social-demo- cratic call for a Labour gov- ernment as the answer to all problems. Such call our not be opposed by would Harold Wilson, Victor Feather or any other Labour bureau- crat seeking to counterpose the "political" to thẹ struggle present "trade union" struggle, thereby effectively ensuring that there would not in fact be any struggle at all. We do not counterpose the present form of struggle to some other struggle, but show how the present way in which the working class is fighting against capitalism can be turned into an effective political struggle.

In short, what we say is not that the trade union struggle must be abandoned in order to fight inside the Labour or, ultimate horror, Party, "build the party", but that the aims of the struggle of the trade unions must be changed.

'We say "it is excellent that you fight inside the trade unions. It is correct that it is not possible to change the Labour Party. However They must be extended to take up the fundamental questions economy and of the of the state". This for us means posing the question of a workers' government based on the trade unions.' The revolutionary movement in the 20th century, built above all by Lenin before his death and after that by Trotsky and the Fourth International, has been built theoretical foundations entirely opposed to everything in the above quotation. 1G's type when he attacked the 'Economist Lenin's What is to Be Done?', drawing on Marx and Engels, shows that Marxist theory, originating not just in the experience of the working class but in the development of philosophy, political eco- history, reflecting nomy and the whole of the class struggle, is brought into the working- class movement from the out- side. The revolutionary party is in constant struggle to break the working class from the ideological grip of the bour- geoisie, and does not exist simply to 'extend' the limited trade union struggle. It is not a question of the present way the working class is fighting against capitalism' being 'turned into an effective political struggle. On the contrary, the decisive question is a struggle for Marxist theory and leadership who leave the against those . working class in the condition of simply building up the restricted, reformist present forms of struggle. The revolutionary party starts from the preparation for the struggle for power. Its every reform ed. intervention on or wages struggle is decided by the requirements of this preparation. It is not just a question of the 'present goals' being "too limited', as the IMG says, but of these limits being a dangerous instrument, effected through the reformists and Stalinists, for keeping the working class out of politics while the bourgeoisie carries of through the construction Bonapartist forms of rule.

Lenin fought ideas of the type put forward by the IMG he attacked the when on on lust prowed that the 'Economist' economic working class in order to leave the realm of politics exclusively to the bour- The the IMG today, taking up have been ta Iney paraded by itself to be Ever since the future workers' the

USSR,

has for power in against the pledged to Diesent talist world. the most struggle subordination donment of ing class. acy and une struggle the working diverted from against the (as the IMG ideas would workers' the anything, more today when they are claiming group • Trotskyist. October 1917, fate the state the in depended above else on the success rking-class struggle the advanced break. will be centrism of the гур aban. political,

The Italian Social Movement (MSI), with 56 seats in the new National Assembly, is rapidly shedding the mask of moderation it wore during the May election compaign.

The party is headed by Giorgio Almirante, a former aide of dictator Benito Musso- lini, and stands openly for the restoration of fascism and the corporate state. During the election cam- paign, the MSI claimed to be the foremost defender of law and order against 'anarchy'— demonstrations, ter- strikes, rorism and the threat of revolu- tion. It won support from high- echelon officers in the armed forces, from the police and from frightened sections of the middle class and the boureoisie.

More sinister, however, was the support it gained among the discontented unemployed and peasantry of the South.

Here, as a result of the refor- mist betrayals of the Commu- nist Party and the Social- Democrats, the MSI made con- siderable gains. The result of the election completely failed to resolve the parliamentary crisis chronic which finally brought down the Italian government at the end of last year. The previous government, a coalition between the Christian Democrats and various smaller parties, broke up in sharp dis- agreement over measures to meet the economic crisis.

The employers demanded that the government act against working-class militancy, a opened big demand which rifts in the coalition. It proved impossible to find a parliamentary combination which could agree a sufficiently acceptable to firm policy the bourgeoisie to meet the economic problems of Italian capitalism. were also divisions There over the proposed divorce law, which would involve abrogat- ing part of the fascist Concor- with the Vatican-an dat agreement which is still in force. The election, however, has solved none of the pressing parliamentary problems. The line-up of parties in the new National Assembly is much as before-except that the fas- cists have made gains. Giulio Andreotti, the Christ- ian-Democrat premier-design- ate, is now stumbling around corridors of power try- the ing to cobble together a coali- frọm the same forces tion which have proved incapable in The impasse of parliament- of ary democracy in Italy is a. C symptom of the advanced stage of the economic crisis and the insolubility of the problems capitalism through of Italian 'democratic' means. Almirante has little hesita- tion in preparing for civil war.

In a speech at Florence on June 4, he mentioned the assassination of Milan police chief Calabresi and other ter- rorist attacks: 'We are witnessing the un- folding of a permanent attempt be Top: Giorgio Almirante, restoring fasci at a coup d'etat which has two targets: the national right and the forces of order, he said. The MSI was 'morally and politically' in solidarity with the "forces of order, he said.

If the government continues to avoid its obligations, we are ready to take over the state...

We will sound the alarm every- where... 'Our youth must prepare for confrontation with the com- munists. I have already been mis- understood on previous occa- sions, and I want to prevent misunderstanding any now. When I talk of confrontation: mean physical confrontation.

These words represent a dir- ect threat to the entire Italian labour movement. The Com- munist Party is far and away working-class Italy's biggest party and controls the biggest trade union confederation.

Almirante also made it clear that his party stood for strike- breaking and for the reasser- tion of discipline in the uni- versities and schools. This is civil-war talk. It was in a series of 'physical con- frontations' with the commu- nists and trade unionists after the first world war that Musso- lini prepared for his march on any Rome and seizure of power.

In this situation the policy of the Stalinist leaders of the : a. Communist Party is criminal betrayal. Far from mobilizing the workers to defeat the fascist bands in open combat, the CP leaders adopted during • the a stance of ultra- election respectability. They hoped by demonstrating their ability to restrain the working class to win a place in some future coalition government. The energies and fighting capacity of the workers are npt being thrown away in partial, oring fascism. Above: Giulio Andreotti.

dead-end struggles such as one- day general strikes, guerrilla stoppages and protest demon- strations. At the same time, the CP confines itself to asking the state to take action against the fascists-calling on the very 'forces of order' that same Almirante is now courting so assiduously and with infinitely more success. independent organiza- The tion of the working class to combat fascism is nowhere mentioned by the Stalinist leaders. At the same time, the vari- ous Maoist and anarchist ten- dencies have turned their backs on the workers within the CP and its unions. Almirante has only an insig- nificant parliamentary repre- sentation at present, far less than the CP or the Christian- Democrats. But these figures are no reflection of the real relationship of forces. Behind Almirante stand all the disgruntled policemen and army officers and those grow- ing sections of big business who want a decisive show- down with the workers. If this cannot be done through the discredited and corrupt parliamentary forms, then the bourgeoisie will turn elsewhere—towards the fascist strong-arm men. The parliamentary cretins of the Communist Party leader- ship think that the ballot-box settles everything. In reality what has happened at the bal- lot box has only posed the old problems ten times more sharply. For all Almirante's bombast he is still a long way from power. He still has to carry his threats into practice.

But the is being way smoothed for him in the most dangerous manner by the Stali- nists.

MILLIONS

IN DANGER

AS US

BOMBS

BY JOHN SPENCER

By far the most sinister aspect of the current Ameri- can offensive against North Vietnam is the bombardment of the dykes in the Red River delta. In the opinion of experts like Yves • Lacoste. geography professor at the University of Paris, this could produce the scale of disaster on an atomic-bomb explosion. Lacoste points out that the Red River plain, where the of the population of North Vietnam lives, bounded high mountains which receive a huge rainfall during the monsoon season.

DYKES

COMPLEX

The fast-flowing rivers carry millions soil and ot tons ol the plains, and bravel OnLO deposited on the these are river-beds, gradually raising the rivers above the level of the surrounding countryside.

As a result, the rivers run on raised embankments, some- 18 feet times as as much above the plain. They would inundate the countryside every were it not for the fact year, that since Middle Ages built the peasants have complex network of dykes to hold the floodwaters in check Apart from the dykes built along the river bank, others are constructed at right angles to contain the floods should the river wall be breached. There are also dykes along the coast, to prevent the sea from flooding the delta during the frequent typhoons. A series of breaches opened up simultaneously in the dyke network during the monsoon period more produce deaths than several atomic bombs dropped on the delta region. Nixon's aircraft have already begun systematic bom- bardment of the dykes, using laser-guided cases i3 Press, Tuesday June 13, 1972 PAGE 5 bombs. These weapons can be delivered on target with pin- In many places, however, the US Air Force is adopting an even more dangerous • tac- tic. This involved undermining the river. walls by dropping blockbuster weapons on the river bed close to the dykes.

This produces huge craters which can lead to the com- plete collapse of the river. wall, letting loose the full in- tensity of the floodwaters on the surrounding countryside.

An additional barbaric re- finement is to follow the with blockbusters anti- personnel bombs to kill the peasants who gather to repair the breaches. Attacks of this sort were almost daily occurrences during the monsoon seasons of 1965, 1966 and 1967. The fact that there was not a catastrophic flood indicates only that the US command carefully graduated the attacks to keep the North Vietnamese at full stretch, retaining the constant threat that the delta would be flooded. The bombardments were carefully calculated to coincide with maximum flood levels. On several occasions, large areas were flooded as a result.

This happened at Tien-Lang and Vinh-Bao, not far from Haiphong, on July 27-31, 1966 at the height of Typhoon Ora.

US bombers flew 14 sorties against the sea-dykes and the resulting destruction brought the sea into large areas of the low-lying coastal plain. Fifteen million people live in the Red River Delta. If the dykes breached this are • millions summer, literally could lose their lives. The Air Force campaign of bombardment is already pro- ducing the conditions under which this genocide could occur.

PAGE 6 Workers Press, Tuesday June 13, 1972

BY PHILIP WADE, HOUSING CORRESPONDENT

more with the aim of making As the working class drop the the Tories Housing moves forward on several Finance Bill. fronts to defend their The beginning of the pam- basic rights against the phlet contains absolutely no analysis situation of the in Tory certain onslaught, the Tories which brought in left tendencies are the Bill. It is as if the measure dropped out reth sky. attempting to block any 'fair rents' Bill is not development towards just the result of mere vindic- independent class action.

part of the tiveness on the Answering an objective Tories. Never before have they need of capitalism, the aim of attempted such wholesale these centrist groups is to try attack council and on both into and lead the movement private tenants. blind-alley of the single-issue

DRIVING DOWN

channels politics, into protest through which nothing can be

LIVING

learned. They deny the revolutionary

STANDARDS

potential of the working class as a force for putting an end to This further Tory attempt to capitalism, and immediately the drive down the living standards Tory government. of the working class is a result That is precisely the role of of the ever-deepening International the so-called mic crisis the British ruling Socialism It was class faces. group today. the seen in campaign against They need to reduce living Bill Relations the Industrial standards to survive as a rul- how they provided a 'left' cover From the ing class. tenants for the Communist Party's call hope to hundreds they reap to 'Kill the Bill'. of millions of pounds in higher They joined with the Stali- rents while at same time the nists in confusing and mislead- ending subsidies to local coun- workers through ing many cils. aimed at spreading campaign So it is more than a Bill that somehow the the illusion 'designed to inflict massive Tories would bow mass the intro- dent on senses as th pressure and protest and drop duction superfi- says. Bill. their cial and one-sided. The aim of That is they were so why the Bill flows from the Tories' hostile to the Socialist Labour crisis. League's demand that the TUC In the Bill goes any case be forced to organize a General further than just rent rises. The the Tory gov- Strike to force whole basis of municipal hous- resign and replace ernment to ing established in struggle by it with a Labour government the working class will be effec- committed to socialist policies.

tively destroyed by the Bill.

Because for centrists like IS The introduction of market would have such a campaign rents and the ending of sub- the working meant involving sidies will have this result. class in powerful, independent 'What can be done?' asks which would have laid action pamphlet. It this the basis of a break from the the is at and stage that the IS begins to ela- trade union bureaucracy of an alter- borate a strategy of unity, soli- the construction leader- darity and determination' native, revolutionary 'can ship inside the trade unions.

which win through the toughest odds'. As the showdown with the pages the authors Tory government becomes the In three attempt to distort past history order of the day. the centrists of the workers' of the IS become more and movement in determined that the order to justify a rent strike more linked with industrial action as working class should not break free and put an end to the gov- the only way forward. 'Rent strikes have won in the ernment by forcing it to resign.

past and can win today. It is That is why their recent the tenants' that on smashon he Toty Bill pamphlet struggle against the Tory 'fair that can smash the Tory rents' Bill assumes a most per- they write. It was inevitable that they nicious character. Glasgow The of the pam- would return to the intention of 1915 in phlet is to use militant-sound- rent struggles an for IS's attempt to justify their posi- ing phrases to tion of pure militancy. lack of principle and perspec- 'There is no doubt that the tive. It implies that at all costs halting of the munitions fac- tories and the show of strength the tenants' fight must remain and solidarity on the part of a tenants' fight and nothing (eldhari ПОЛІ harbour Our Hushands Sons and

• MEET MUST

LIUE

PROTECT OUR COMES

Prusstans of Germany

CERMANSIAN XORINNE

We are fighting the Prussials Of PARTICH only alteratire

MUNICIPAL HOUS

Top: tenants protesting against the Tories' rent bill. Above: the 1915 Glasgow rent strike.

Press (May 8 and 9 have taken the Glasgow strug- the organized trade Workers gle completely out of its histo- the Clyde 1972) however, have analysed movement on was how the IS set distort rical context. the vital element in winning of time the Glasgow that battle, we are told. of this aspect the history that workers' workers This- -presumably the movement in enginering PIOVeS beyond all doubt the order to snatch some justifica- involved sharp struggle correct- In with the government to defend ness of the IS line on the 'fair tor the present position. Previous articles The empiricists of the IS • basic rights against the vicious in the campaign to break the speed-up and discipline being up imposed in the munitions fac- Clvde shop stewards' move- tories with the co-operation of on the key question of ment trade union bureaucracies.

'dilution of labour' in the the Then towards the end of munitions factories. take covered landlords 1915 began The real question. advantage of the war and send was the failure of OVer increases out notices of rent the Clyde involving thousands of tenants.

to take the leadership of tha By early October, six districts and tenants' rent strike were on rent strike and a mass broaden their own fight demonstration was held in cen- against dilution into a general Glasgow. Rent collectors fight against the government tral chased by and the imperialist war. were away angry tenants. For although the government The government, determined deemed it necessary to make a with the war rents. to press ahead tactical on „orrant the effort through attack on dilution went through and the engineering workers' protective carnage of the first imperialist adopted a concilia- war went on for three more practices, tory attitude to the rents ques- years. tion and set up an inquiry.

REPETITION

Despite militant statements the leaders of the rent strike

OF THE

saw the struggle very much as question. Pro- a single-issue

KEY WORDS

posed reforms of the housing It is no accident that the IS diverting included question building leaves out these lessons and tramway profits into isolates the pure militancy of municipal housing. One leader declared the working class as something even laccon. be worshipped in the tially a woman's fight'. Because their The government adopted a abstract. pamphlet allows no room for in order conciliatory attitude to contain the militancy of the the of consciousness raising and the building of revolution- working class. Despite hostility ary leadership in the working it intro. own ranks. duced and the Rent class. passed Instead we are treated to the Restrictions Act. of the key afterwards the repetition words: Immediately launched solidarity, determination government and successful organization. sustained and The following extract is an example of their reformist approach to the tenants' fight against the Tories: 'Successful strikes have a few things in common— solidarity, good organization, a clear view of the objective and factor vital isolation leads to defeat. In this respect trade union sup- port is the key and will assume a major importance this year in the fight against the Bill.

Another element is that the Tories' plan affects tenants nationally so it will be possible for a national campaign to be avoid the organized, to isolation that individual tenants feel. In addition the proposals for means-testing up to 7 million will enable tenants be built with links to claimants' unions and unem- ployed workers who can offer experience in dealing with the the Social bureaucrats at Security. Rent strikes have won in the past and can win today.

It is the only weapon tenants have that can smash this Tory Bill.' (Emphasis in original.)

This lengthy extract is re- printed to show with what utter contempt IS treats the working class. The class is something to be merely shifted around. Links can be built here, experience gained there and support got here and there.

Workers Press, Tuesday And the aim is lead a protest against the government make them kill their Bill.

Above all, tenants will re- main tenants. Trade union sup- port is simply a key. There is no question of the movement uniting to force the Tories to resign with their Bill. This is made clearer in the 'How Not To next section, Fight-(Waiting for Labour).

In this section the IS make it clear that as far as they're con- cerned the working class has no possibility of breaking from reformism: tenants should be • sceptical of placing any re- liance on. this promise to repeal the Bill] for a number of reasons.' Two explanations are given; First, whenever a Labour government is in power it pays to very little attention the Labour Party . . . secondly, • a Labour government is unlikely until 1974-1975 In this way the IS is seeking to prevent the working class from from breaking social democracy. Firstly, there is no chance of forcing the Tories to resign and they must constitu- tionally run their full term of office. Secondly, it is a waste of back time putting Labour because they never take any Party notice of the Labour rank-and-file. Here we have all the revisionist contempt for the working class expressed in a nutshell. The working class must of necessity remain powerless in of Labour the face the bureaucracy. The Socialist Labour League raises the question of a Labour committed to government socialist policies by the mass movement precisely for the opposite reasons. We say that for the working class to break from reformism it is necessary to go through the experience of a Labour government in practice. The SLL begins with a conception revolutionary of building a party in Britain out of these struggles: the IS begin as protesters, engaged in immedi- 'concrete, single-issue ate, politics. What is the IS recipe, then?

action, Why, direct course! survive 'The Tories can petitions, demonstrations and lobbies of parliament ... What they cannot survive is action which hits them in direct ways, as the miners' strike did. We must actually stop the oper- "fair rents" of the ation scheme and hit at their profits.' again the militancy Once and strength of the working class. is" used to distort It is true that the reality. miners' won substantial wage frơm the Tory concessions government. It is equally true, however, that Tory government remained in power when it could have been forced to resign. The NUM leadership of Daly and Gormley drew back from the struggle precisely at the time when the government indicated there might be an election over the issue. To the IS, the working class is nothing more than a series to be moved of counters gaining concessions around, militant, taking up here a defensive stand there: 'Previous rent strikes have been confined to one area, and have become a battle between tenants and local councils. It must be made quite clear that the tenants' struggle this time is a national struggle with the government. Therefore we have to build in every part national links between tenants in every part of the country. For this we need a national tenants' organization with the prospect national tenants' of a con- ference plan national to action. The objective should be one of forcing the Tories to retreat on the Housing Finance Bill by united national action.'

(My emphasis.) Workers Press, Tuesday June 13, 1972 PAGE 7 Rank-and-file militancy car lenalls on a dallullal Dasis day. win will back down under pressure.

Because ant varist trom is fori Bona- Crisis walch is ad to Lores ol the partism, paspales can icuants me a war That is why authors are abl near The enol or the money to make tne rollowing astouna- ne statement this the reality since strike the Tories have miners snown unar the bourgeois state is lar wrom poweriess. Parliameny decrees issued • rule has been bye passed by he Industrial Relations Court. The statements Donaldson sala the Ste 190s Tad fate years after less his bourgeon state porker.

less is through power class taking tne stale established apparalu. capilalisill

WORKING

WITHIN

CAPITALISM

We that organize a tenants agall militancy which comes from their hatred and their land. Tories ot the campaign Jora irienos _Into will lines Icau with nothing being economic conditions for resignation of the Tory govern- This is the the IS road opposed taking. the Tory ges govern- parliament, the The struggle has to be taken tenants' movement n nt gainst those tendencies in th labour movement like thel which struggle mignt and main to hold back the working class.

Settion in each a ca in shich tenants associators ana com represented. mittees must de The Councils of Action be able to bring together every ection fighting the Tory enemy They must fight for the TUC preparation to make Tor Toe General Strike with the aim of for cin& ouncils Tories resign une Actior

WIL

She for the return Sover will to carry socialist policies. And for housing this means the unde workers control without com- pensation the land, the building building industry, anks, com- societies Insulance monopolize panies who take pla e in the Councils st Marxist leadership haced orin les and the struct one revolutionary party class lead the working power

On May 14 the 'Sunday Times' became the first Fleet Street newspaper in Britain to publish an account of the views of Brigadier Frank Kitson, in an article entitled "The guru of the new model army. In a subse- quent Tory Press Column in Workers Press Alex Mitchell sharply criticized the 'Sunday Times' writers for whitewashing Kitson and his theories of counter-subversion and counter-insurgency. Bruce Page, managing editor of the 'Sunday Times' and one of the authors of the original piece, has attempted to answer the criticisms PAGE 8 Workers Press, Tueaday June 1: the views of Brigadier . quent Tory Press Colun whitewashing Kitson an in this Letter to the Edi Dear Editor, My attention has been drawn to your article of May 19 con- cerning the article I wrote with Lewis Chester about Brigadier Kitson and his theories. There can be no complaint about the manner of your attack. For all that, I must take issue with some of your (Lewis Chester, arguments. incidentally, is out of town.

I'm not able to answer for him.) First, of course, I do dis- quite basically with agree Brigadier Kitson's ideas, and I'm rather surprised that any- one who read the article could have thought otherwise. How- ever, a reporter's first and most useful function in such a case should be to say what the ideas are, rather than advertise his own feelings about them.

I don't think myself that any reader of the Workers Press articles on Kitson would have gathered any very precise idea of the kind of military techniques Kitson was advo- All he would have cating. gathered would have been a is some feeling that Kitson kind of old-style militarist— which he certainly isn't-and that the Workers Press dis- approved of Kitson the man.

If Kitson were indeed the blimp of ferocious your caricature, then I don't think he would be very formidable.

On respect for democracy: well, it seems to me that debates are a fairly important part of any democratic pro- cess. (I say, a part. Not even J. S. Mill thought that was the whole of it.) Brigadier Kitson says he's for debate-although personally I'd like to see him make his commitment a bit more consistent. However, on your own account you don't seem to think that debate is even useful. Convicted, I'd say, out of your own type- writer. On details, you say that Brigadier Kitson was 'the key officer' in Ulster during 'three milestones in British imperial- ism's savagery there' (what type of milestones are you using. round there at the Workers Press?) • Internment. It's no purpose of mine to speak for Kitson, but I'm fairly satisfied that, for »у Juno 13, 1972 Sunday Times' be adier Frank Kitsc Column in Work son and his theor lay Times' and on ne Editor. Picture military reasons, internment in summ Torture It i tho was any evidence dier Kitson was ponsible for the 'hor we. exposec Times', then I'd har I know of and think even arı should be considere untı it's snown oune Bloody The wrong. things, that command never hac to do with Derry-h whatever To Sunday. No evidenc into this conne otherwise. can be bothered is come Conne examine us examine may know something But I'm sure we cat you that we've bee that raised by Brigadiel writings _ae too be left to middle-cla for — aitnougn, I'm a middle-class don't think, you'll get very far b ing to the Kitson that Class than other officer. People who come across won't believe you. Yours etc, Bruce Page, 'The Sunday Ti

ALEX MITCHI

REPLIES

Mr Page's letter is equivocation. It wil that he nobouy cally' disagrees wit ideas. On the strengthens the cor original

VUI

'Kitson finds friend Street'. Dealing with at length Temer serious and each • because crisis orsening dapitalism. A big payments crisis is 1 the autumn es became the 1 Kitson, in an a theories of cour nd one of the aut icture from the asons, he opposed in summer 1971 If I thought there that Briga- directv res 'hood torture' Sunday n I'd have said so. such evidence, even armv ofncers considered innocent own orner wise Sunday. You're e Insight inquiry other whose lever had anything had nothing Bloody do with evidence has ever this office sug- To who Anyone quite wel- and cross- about this, evidence. something we don't. re we can convince ve've been true to issues Brigadier important to niddle-class liberals the record, ile-class socialist. however, That members himself is honourable an ple who happen personally unday Times'.

AITCHELL

letter is a complete will bast- rees with Kitson's contrary, the correctness of that headline ds friends in Fleet Mr Page's length becomes task, mandatory big balance-of- crisis is forecast 1n n coupled with the first Fleet Street news!

ress Alex Mitchell sharply c f counter-subversion and co I the 'Sunday Times'. run on sterling, there is com- plete stagnation in economy with a continuing low level of investment, rapid inflation and unemployment • swinging back over certainly lay = the 1 million mark.

These are the symptoms which produce great conflict between the working class and the ruling class. And in this situation men like Kitson, groomed for special military tasks, are to be studied with close attention. Kitson has already given us a glimpse of how he sees the situation developing in his book 'Low Intensity Opera- tions'. We quoted this passage' in our articles on Kitson last December, 'The Sunday Times' did not. In the context of this Kitson's reply, words are worth repeating: genuine and serious If a grievance such as arose as might result from a significant drop in the standard of living those who now dissipate all their protest over a wide variety of causes might con- centrate their efforts and pro- situation which duce was beyond the power of the police to handle. Should this happen, the army would be required to restore the position rapidly.'

• because of It is precisely Kitson's succinctly expressed class views that Mr Page's equivocations won't get through these columns unchal- lenged. First of all, he pleads that he is 'rather surprised' that could conclude he anyone supported Kitson's ideas.

We weren't the only people to draw this conclusion of the original article. Most of Mr Page's own colleagues on "The Sunday Times' thought so as well. We are still forced to this conclusion in the absence of any definite statement by Mr Page in which he explains that what Kitson is talking about amounts to a direct threat to the working class in this country. Mr Page's refuge is to read us a lesson in journalism in which he says 'a reporter's first and most useful function in such a case should be to say what the ideas are, rather than advertise his own feelings about them'. This is the crudest form of he guru of the n counter-insurg idealism. Is Mr Pag suggesting that should spectato great panorama passing vacant cypher? Operating by would fee Mr Page to uncritically repor lish the a Mussolini so much as a full st ma of the text. We know, Mr Page doesn't rea this. We know article-along the others he paragraph Bruce pure personal and the role of the can it be any other it's Mr Page's view now want It is quite presented Ki have 'ferocious blimp'. have alwa trary, we terized him as contemporary were the first to the Heath different vastly Tory regimes Macmillan and Pathetically, turns that during say decorated service Kenya, ism in Cyprus, Kitson interest no bates' with the local In the meantime, and were killed in these Page's Mr bate is extremely It would, about whether the al be used as an auxili police force in situation continues along lines •ThA Kitson both 'Late workers were with atons or on There's nothing cratic in our confused liberal Kitson for him approach standpoint he stands for. there can be no in Britain to pub the new model insurgency. Bruc attempted to an • Mr Page seriously journalists spectators the on of society messages like this standard iould feel prepared illy report and pub- ews of a Hitle without changing a full stop or com- however. ThAT oesn't really believe because his with most of writes - was paragraph of his giving Kitson e of the army. How other way? And that ge's views we deal with just Kitson's. te wrong to say we Kitson On the con- lave always charac- o publish an account of lodel army'. In a subse- • Bruce Page, managing I to answer the criticisms Frank Kitson (above) with armoured patrol during his com- mand in Belfast. Kitson, Heath, Barber, Davis or Lord Thomson for that matter. They are part of the enemy class. On the points of 'fact we have difficulty in replying be- cause of obvious legal prob- lems. Suffice it to say that we stand on our earlier com- ments. On internment, how- it is intriguing to find ever, Mr Page doing a spot of pub- lic relations on Kitson's be- half and on Bloody Sunday we have him attempting to com- pletely cover up Kitson's role.

Yet it is a fact that Kitson gave the orders to Lieutenant Colonel Derek Wilford to take the First Parachute Regiment to Derry. It is a fact that General Ford and Kitson dis- cussed the plan (which was authorized by the Tory Cabinets at Westminster and Stormont) and agreed to it.

Their agreement this on strategy caused disquiet in some sections of the army. On January 25, six days before the Simon Hoggart of massacre, "The Guardian' quoted a worried captain as saying: Wading into people as if this warfare simply jungle were isn't on in Belfast. Kitson is, of course, one of the army's leading 'experts' on and counter • insurgency counter- subversion and . . .

jungle warfare. Mr Page can't resist a final paragraph to repeat again that Kitson is an honourable offi- cer. (In the original article Kit- was a 'patently sincere son and honourable officer'). So were they all honourable men!

It was in the name of 'honour' that most of imperialism's deadly campaigns-at home in the colonies-were op and carried out. Mr Page wants to defend the honour of the regiment against the slings of the Workers Press. Fair enough.

He's entitled to do that. At least he's more clearly out in the open. Now we await to hear from Mr Chester. Mr Page informs us he is a middle-class One socialist. can only ask-what type of 'socialists' are they turning out there at "The Sunday Times"?

BY SARAH HANNIGAN

As its system staggers from crisis to crisis, big business throughout the US is daily stepping up its attacks on working class and union rights. auto division, is no exception.

In fact, he's a leader in the campaign against union rights.

Last week Godfrey got to- gether in Detroit with another outspoken wage-cut and speed- Good, James man, up economic editor of Dayton (Ohio) Daily News'. Good is who has a man talked long and loud in favour of the recent Dayton Frigi- daire speed-up, wage-cut plan.

And back in the 1930s, who should get his first start as boss in Dayton at Frigidaire?

None other than Godfrey. Godtrey told Good: 1 am not pessimistic. think we can solve our problems, but if we don't the auto industry may not be far from being another Frigidaire.'

He was referring to the lact that rrigidaire recently threatened to close the Dayton plant to scare International Union of Electrical Workers' local leaders into acceptance of wage-cuts. Neither does Godfrey have reason at the moment to be pessimistic — General Motors' profits for the last quarter were the highest in their history. He went on: If a man works 60 minutes an hour, that's full productivity...

'Sure, some people are un- suited for assembly work, and they should out. They get what they're getting know into. "They complain, and yet if we closed Lordstown (GM Ohio plant) and then re- opened it, would get we 50,000 applications.' Godfrey can talk about 50,000 application for jobs in his giant GM sweat-shops- jobs which have driven many men to the verge of break- down-confident in the know- ledge that already six million workers are on the dole. He also knows that high . unemployment coupled with redundancy and closure threats are the employers' weapons for attacking wholesale the hard-won rights of the work- ing class. He says: 'Workers aren't motivated anymore. "There are pensions and subsistence pay insurance, workers' compensation — all these high benefit plans take desire away? As far as Godfrey is con- cerned GM would have more highly 'motivated' workers if these fringe benefits were done away with completely, reducing workers to the con- ditions that provoked the mass sit-down strikes of the 1930s. GM's record in blocking all supplementary unemployment benefit pay for the last five years now takes on a new meaning. Workers in General Motors throughout the US have con- sistently been cheated of this money, in spite of the fact that it is written in to their contract. Godfrey sees the smashing of fringe benefits as essential to his campaign of terrorizing workers into accepting all-out speed-up - central to his efforts in 'solving' the prob- lems of the auto industry.

The withholding of supple- mentary benefits has been an important weapon in the GM surrender policy, 'starve or in full swing in the now eight-week long strike at the Norwood, Ohio plant. Since the strike started they have refused to negotiate with Auto Workers' union United leaders. Referring to the bitter fight in February this year at the Lordstown plant, Godfrey re- marked: It was political fight- ing with this shop committee that was behind the fight at Lordstown.' Godfrey is no fool. He knows well that since last August's decision to remove gold-backing for the dollar and with the collapse of the post-war monetary system— every union fight is a political fight. In that he reflects sense exactly the feelings of big business throughout the US and the world. Workers Press, Tuesday June 13, 1972 PAGE 9 Clapham is a 'strong inter- •The nationalist', says Guardian'. This is no doubt a reference to the fact that Clapham is a deputy chairman of ICI, one of Britain's staun- chest pro-Market companies.

Overheard two Whitehall civil servants talking outside Horse 'Funny Guards Parade: thing happened at work today. Men started to cart in large quan- tities of barbed wire and store it in basement. Wonder the what it's for?' His friend: 'Gosh, I can't think. The National Graphical Asso- ciation seems to be recruiting dodgy members some pretty well lately. Latest recruit is known horsewoman, Princess Anne. Andrew Cunningham, father of the chapel at Cumberland Newspapers, Carlisle, recently presented her with an NGA card before she started the new presses running. Keeping track of the ambitious Street: men in Fleet young a Labour Now his for seat. 'Sunday rival the Times, on Bryn Jones, industrial corres- pondent of the 'Daily Mirror', recently gained pre-selection John Fryer, has won a Labour pre-selection at Harwich.

ADY

The new president of the Con- federation of British Industry is Michael Clapham. He 'Sunday Times' journalist, suc- Sir John™ Partridge who Murray Sayle, got a very fluid ceeds has become well known to the start in the Trans-Atlantic Press over the past single-handed yacht race being Workers 12 months. sponsored by the rival paper, Partridge's departure doesn't the 'Observer' He spent £140 on alcoholic mean he will be thrown onto beverages for friends who went the dole queue or anything like that. He simply returns to to see him off. It included bur- his job as chairman of Imperial gundy, chablis and, as a good Tobacco his salary is Aussie, 35 dozen cans of Fos- where about £20,000 ters.

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PAGE 10 Workers Press, Tuesday Juno 8, 1972 Our housing correspondent TODAY in North London a woman and her six young children are awaiting the call of the bailiff's men, sent by the local Labour council to evict them.

In the eyes of Hackney families lived normal lives_ with other residents of Grayling Road, Council, Mrs Helen Ven- receiving occasional visits from Mr Osbourne. nard's 'crime' is that she has Then in February a change in the council's attitude towards the squatted in one of their families took place. On February 21, a new man from the council empty properties since arrived at one of the squatter's Easter 1971. doors. The woman was left with the she would soon impression All Mrs Vennard wants, as be rehoused, judging by the man's she explained to me, remarks. where to live and bring up her Mrs Vennard was out when the When children. man called at her house. Yet the council, despite pro- the oldest child told him her mises made in county court, mother was he walked in has up until today refused them questioning the child and began any real help. The council's wel- about who lived there. fare department seems little con- The next day Mrs Vennard met cerned. It would appear that the the the house; he man in does Mrs council not recognize admitted he was from the council.

Vennard. sheriff's days later two _ WO officers nailed summonses to the Hackney CouncilLabour-con- doors of • all the families, and trolled by 63 seats to seven- who also to the door of a house in Grayling own the property in Barrat's Grove, Stoke Newington, Road Jennard out so Stoke Newington, want occupied by two other squatting Mrs they can families. begin modernization work.

One of these last two families moved in 14 As soon as she had paid £70 key-money Mrs Vennard months ago bogus landlord some weeks pre- council that she informed the house. viously to get the The was there. summons was the first they knew The next day a Mr Osbourne that they were squatting.

and his assistant visited her. They On March 9, stayed some time taking down the all the particulars. When they down to be dealt with by were left they thanked Mrs Vennard the High Court in St: ind. the for her help and said they were the The summonses referred. to doing all they could to help.

families not by name but as Mrs a number of A, B. C, D, and E. As time passed other homeless families moved in In doing this they fol- were procedure properties along the lowing the emergency to empty adopted 1969 by street. All received similar visits in private from Mr Osbourne. landlord to regain from hippies a block in Piccadilly. Over the next eight months the The daily paper that leads the fight against the Torles. £20.28 for 12 months (312 issues) £10.14 for 6 months (156 ls8U08) {5.07 for 3 months (78 issues) If you want 1o take Workers Press twice a wook the rates are: £1.56 for 3 months (24 issues) £6.24 for 12 months (96 issues) Fill in the form below NOW and senid to: 186a Clapham High Sl., Circulation Deplt., Workers Press, London, SW4 7UG. I would like to take out a subscription to Workers Press.

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Name Address Mrs Helen Vennard outsic as it is known, Order 113, is 'used when it is impossible to ascertain the names of those liv- ing there. After the High Court hearing and Order 113 had fallen through, the council proceeded to issue normal summonses. These were heard in Shoreditch county court on May 16. that Mrs Vennard told me the council representative in the court assured the judge that everyone would be re-housed by the welfare department. It trans- pired later that the representative was not from the housing depart- ment and told Mrs Vennard he couldn't make such promises.

BY OUR OWN REPORTER

HARDSHIP and humiliation are the lot of thousands of families affected by the Sup- plementary Benefits Com- mission wage-stop, according to a report published yester- day by the Child Poverty Action Group. But they do not as the report tends to suggest stem from the insensitivity or mean- ness of some of the Commis- sion's officers. They are the direct result of secret, built-in codes of practice which have been cynically ope- rated by successive governments -Tory and Labour-and are now being ruthlessly exploited by ser- vants of the Heath Cabinet.

The CPAG discovered that about 10,000 of the country's wage-stopped families are still liv- ing below the poverty line.

In April, the figure dropped from 21,000 because some became eligible for family income sup- plement. But the numbers are expected to rise again when sup- plementary benefits increase and rents go up. The wage-stop is the Commis- sion's mechanism for ensuring that low-paid workers do not get more when unemployed than when they are working. cation of the workhouse system.

Sick or just unable to find work, the lower-paid are branded as such and the benetits to which they and their families are enti- tled are cruelly slashed. More than 60,000 children were found to have been condemned to a life of poverty by these of the measures at the time CPAG's last report in November 1971; the numbers will be back to this level once the Tories have taken away, with the Housing Finance Bill, what they claimed to give in the Budget. The Supplementary. Benefits Handbook, which is the public face of the government's benefit ... lard outside the house Hackney Council want to "The council is not interested in us at all now, said Mrs Ven- nard. When one of the families went up to the welfare depart- ment recently she was not even taken into the office. 'Nobody else too seems bothered either. When one of us went up to see Shelter they said they were backed by the council and couldn't do anything about it. 'With the "fair. rents" Bill, homelessness definitely will increase. I must say I expected to see a different attitude from he a Labour council. *Perhaps if we were "profes- regulations, claims that the wage- stop is not used to whip people back to work. But it argues that it would be unfair for those at work to find that unemployed with similar work-experience or capabilities more. In other were getting words, skinflint employers are to be subsidized in more human misery. The secret codes put a sharp cutting-edge on this steely philo- sophy. And the CPAG report outlines vividly what this means in prac- tice. In a wage-stop family, it says, every piece of spending has to be weighed up: a loaf of bread against the rent; the rent against bills piling up. The greatest lux- ury is an occasional cigarette.

The report, a study of 18 fami- lies on the wage-stop, says only three of the families were not in debt. A Norfolk man had to keep his wife and six children on £20.90 a week. Under the pres- sure of debts and notice to quit his wife broke down. Another man was left with about £ll a week to keep his wife and nine children, after pay- .ing the rent. The gas was cut off and they had to cook. on a highly second-hand dangerous electric cooker. The report, however. seeks to attribute the hardship and depri- vation • it describes the per- to sonality defects of administrators.

Commission officers, it says, have been 'considerably less than dangerous in the exercise of their discretionary powers to grant extra payments to meet excep- tional needs such as clothing and furniture. It adds that some officers appear to have ignored instruc- tions to tell wage-stopped fami- lies of other welfare benefits they may be entitled to. is This kind of behaviour entirely consistent with the loose-leaf 'A' and 'AX' code sys- tems which were thoroughly ex- posed last year in Bernard Franks' ¡Social Security Swindle' (Socia- list Labour League Pocket Lib- rary no 3, 5p). Capable of êxpansion or tight- ening-up at any time without rej ******::"' all want to evict her from.

sional" squatters we might get somewhere. The "professionals" make these agreements with the council then up charging tenants up to f5 a week in rents.

'When this is settled we intend to launch a full campaign against the council-bringing in homeless families from all over. 'If the council wanted to they could solve the homelessness in this borough in five minutes.

"They could move us to another empty house while they do this one up. Eventually we could get on to the housing list and per- haps get a council house.

But the way it's going we'll never get rehoused.' need of open legislation in par- liament, these lay down strict guidelines for the branding and regimentation of wage-stop fami- lies. For instance, the secret 'A' code states that 'in all cases where a wage-stop restriction is applied, the symbol "(W)" should be added to the statistical sym- bol on the case paper wallet'.

These and other designations form part of a dossier on each claimant. They follow him or her round from place to place.

Small wonder the CPAG rep- ort quotes one family as saying "They treat you like dirt.

One woman was so rude you'd think she was talking to a tramp.

'Department of Public Humi- liation I call it'. Instructions are given in the 'A' code on how to decide in which category a claimant should be placed. 'It should be decided whether his physical and/or mental capa- city raise him above the lesser- paid category of "light labourer" to that of "labourer"', one sec- tion says. A lavatory attendant, says the code, is a light labourel in the while someone who digs holes road iS a labourer. It further explains a car park attendant who merely waves cars to a free spot should be regarded as a light whereas, a car park labourer, attendant who has responsibility for collecting cash and issuing a labourer' Officers are warned that when discussing earning capacity with each claimant be treated with reserve, Should his views • They are also told not to give extra help just because the wage-stop reduction is large, or because the general level of benefits have increased. case, the code In the latter directs that wage-stopped bene- fits are tied to possible earnings, not to the general level of bene- fits, so 'the fact that the general level of supplementary benefit has increased is irrelevant. This is the secret of source the horrifying facts the CPAG report reveals. ....

ITV

BBC 1

9.20-9.35 The herbs. 9.38 Schools.

10.20-12.00 Schools. 1.00 Wills 12.00 Cricket. England v Australia.

open tennis tournament. 1.45 1.30 Along the trail. 1.45-1.53 Schools. 2.33 Good afternoon News and weather. 2.05 Schools.

4.15 Play 2.25 Cricket. school. (London and Tyne Tees only).

4.45 4.40 Magic roundabout. 3.00 Wills open tennis tourna- Jackanory. 4.55 Animal magic. ment. 3.45 Danger man. 4.40 5.20 Scooby doo where are you?

5.44 5.50 News Hector's house. Once upon a time. 4.55 Junior and weather. showtime. 5.20 Magpie. 5.50

6.00 NATIONWIDE.

News. 6.45

TELEVISION TOP OF THE

6.00 TODAY.

FORM.

Banbury v Larne.

6.30 CROSSROADS.

7.05 TOMORROW'S WORLD.

'LILACS IN THE SPRING'.

7.30

6.55 FATHER, DEAR FATHER.

Errol Flynn. Anna Neagle, The Cardboard Casanova. NINE O'CLOCK NEWS and 9.00 7.25

FILM: 'GIDEON OF SCOT-

weather.

LAND

YARD'.

Haw- Jack The working day of

!THE

kins. 9.20

DOCUMENTARY:

WAR WE'RE IN DANGER

a detective.

WINNING'®

OF United

CRIME OF PASSION.

9.00 Conference Nations on

NEWS AT TEN.

10.00 the Human Environment.

DOCUMENTARY: 'HARRY'S

10.30

10.10 FILM 72.

OUT'. Harry is a thief from

10.40 24 HOURS.

London. 11.15 VIEWPOINT. The Missing 11.30

WILLS

OPEN

TENNIS

Centuries.

TOURNAMENT.

11.35 Weather.

12.15 EPILOGUE.

BBC 2

11.00-11.25 Play school. 4.30-6.05 series of eight plays. Michele Dotrice, Ruth Cricket. England v Australia.

Dunning, Denholm Elliott, Richard Dennis Vernon,

6.35 OPEN UNIVERSITY.

Waterman, Billie Whitelaw.

7.30 NEWSROOM and weather.

10.35 NEWS ON 2 and weather.

8.00 THE NEW MASTERS.

10.40 CRICKET. England V

8.50 WHEELBASE.

Australia.

11.10 THE OLD GREY WHISTLE

9.20 THE SEXTET.

'The Gre- Richie Havens, Chant'. By Peter

TEST.

gorian Sandy Denny. actors in a Terson. Six

BY SARAH HANNIGAN

SALFORD Corporation, Lancashire, faces a £100,000 bill for repairs them to burn more causing to a 15-storey block of electricity than normally. The tenants have ence por flats, less than five years up with this inconvenience old. over a year. Scaffolding was hrst put up in Originally, the multi-storey 1971 the brickwork first when Floral Court block in Salford's crumble. It remained began to Bury New Road cost £250,000.

until investigations had been car- A year ago cracks appeared in was then removed. ried out and the brickwork and chunks of Two months ago the corpora- new scaf- brick fell away as the exterior started to erect folding, which is still began to crumble. pleted and which has to be tested The block built by the was for safety before workmen can city's direct works department, which was eventually closed because of its overspending. And the corporation inal cost of almost half the original

LUNL

the building to replace the out- side walls, brick by brick.

It is a job which could take TENANTS plan a mass lob loot well over a year. South Wandsworth council, Meanwhile angry tenants are don, tonight when a vote will be demanding rent-cut for the whether to implement inconvenience they are suffering.

taken on the Tory "fair rents' Bill.

the Scaffolding covers whole controlling The Labour group block from bottom. A top to is almost split down the middle wooden fence erected around the The group's ori- the issue. base of the flats completely blocks on decision for the ginal was the view from every flat on long as they ground floor where most of the implementation, SO had the backing of London's other tenants are elderly people.

Labour councils. of the Many tenants Last month, however, a stormy block dan- worried that the is group meeting reversed this deci- gerous. This led to several resigna- Others complain of lack of sIon. scaf- tions by councillors from leading that Folding makes their homes dark, positions. COVENTRY: Tuesday June 13, Ave, Barking. 'Fight the Tory 7.30 'The Queen', Prim- rents policy' p.m. Hil! St. rose

SOUTH

LONDON:

Tuesday 8 Clapham June 20, p.m. SOUTHAMPTON: Tuesday June Clapham Manor Manor Baths, 13, 7.30 Chantry Hall, p.m. SW4. 'Marxism and the St, St Mary's St. unions'. trade

NORTH KENT:

June

SOGAT

WANDSWORTH: Thursday June 20, 8 p.m. 15, 8 p.m. Selkirk Hotel. Selkirk Essex Rd, Dartford. 'Why Rd, Tooting Broadway. 'Build Labour government pledged to Councils of Action'. socialist policies.

NORTH

LONDON:

Thursday 'Bricklayers DAGENHAM: Tuesday June 20, June 22, 8 p.m. 8 p.m. Co-op Hall, Fanshawe Tottenham High Arms, Road The Sextet: (I. to r.) Billle Whitelaw, M Dennis Waterman, Denholm Elliot, Ricl Chant, BBC 2.

REGIONAL TV

London.

CHANNEL: 10.20-2.55

house. 4.10 Enchanted 4.20 Odd couple. 4.55 Puffin. 4.25 London. 6.00 News and weather.

6.10 Police file. 6.15 Lookaround 6.35 Crossroads. 7.00 Film: "The Plainsman'. 8.30 Father, dear 12.15 father. 9.00 London. et projections. 12.30 Actualities Gazette. 12.35 Weather. WESTWARD. As Channel except: 3.55 Gus Honeybun. 4.20 News.

News. 12.17 6.00 Diary. 12.13 Faith for life. SOUTHERN: 10.20 London. 4.00 Houseparty. 4.15 Grasshopper 4.55 island. 4.30 Crossroads. London. 6.00 Day by day. 6.30 Sky's the limit. 7.00 Film: 'The Takes Wife'. 8.30 Farmer a Father, dear father. 9.00 London.

Weather. 12.15 12.25 News. Epilogue. HARLECH: 10.20 London. 4.15 begin their task of replacing each brick with a new one. A spokesman • for the city engineers' department has explained that not enough provi- sion had been made originally to allow for expansion, and con- traction of materials and cracks had appeared near windows and at floor level. There was no danger to any- one in the flats, he said, because concrete shell the block as which was filled in with bricks.

ClIr Ian McGarry, who resigned will as leader of the council, address a tenants' meeting before the resolution on implementation comes up in the council chamber.

Other speakers calling for non- implementation will include Hugh Jenkins, Labour MP for Putney, where McGarry is the agent.

NCE MEETINGS

(near White Hart Lane). 'Building the revolutionary party'. CROYDON: Thursday June 22, 8 p.m. Ruskin House, Coombe Rd. 'Marxism and the trade unions'. LUTON: Thursday June 22, 8 p.m. St John Ambulance Brigade Hall, Lea Rd. 'Stalin- ism'. SOUTH EAST LONDON: Thurs- day June 22, 8 p.m. Deptford Engineers' Club (opposite New Cross Stn.). 'Stalinism'.

Workers Press, Tuesday June 8, 1972 PAGE 11 Romper room. 4.50 News. 4.55 London. 6.00 News. 6.10 Lids- ville. 6.35 7.00 Film: Crossroads. "This is My Affair'. 8.30 Father, dear father. 9.00 London.

YORKSHIRE: 10.20 London. 4.10 News. 4.15 Crossroads 4.40 Enchanted house. 4.55 London. 6.00 Calendar, weather. 6.30 7.00 Cartoon Hogan's heroes. 7.10 'Revolt at Fort Film: time. Laramle'. 8.30 Father, dear father.

9.00 London. 12.15 Weather.

GRANADA:

10.20 London. 3.30 The messengers — on camera. 3.55 Camera in action. 4.10 News.

Peyton Place. 4.40 Enchanted house. 4.55 London. 6.00. News. Put it in writing. 6.25 Set of six. 'Follow That Horse'. 7.00 Film: hitelaw, Michele Dotrice, Ruth Dunning, Father, dear 9.00 8.30 father. Richard Vernon. 'The Gregorian London. Tinkertainment. 4.30 Crossroads. 4.55 London. TYNE TEES: 10.20 London. 4.10 Report 6.18 6.35 Odd News. 4.15 Crossroads. 4.40 Sean London. couple. "Three Young the 4.55 leprechaun. Texans'. 8.30 Father, dear father.

6.00 Today at six. 6.30 Hogan's 9.00 London. 12.15 Weather.

heroes. 7.00 "The Slege at Film: Red River'. 8.30 Father, dear 11.30 Double father. 9.00 London. HTV Wales rial. 01-6.18 top. 12.15 News. 12.30 Epilogue.

4.15-4.30 Miri mawr. Y dydd.

SCOTTISH:

10.20 London. 3.30

HTV

West as above except: Crossroads. 4.10 Origami. 3.45 6.18-6.35 Report West. 6.00 Date- Dateline. 4.55 London. 6.30 Hogan's line. 6.20 Cartoon. heroes. 7.00 Film: 'Quebec'. 8.30 V Cymru/Wales as HTV Wa Is: 10.30-11.30 Dan sy Father, dear father. 9.00 London.

12.15 Late call. ATY MIDLANDS: 10.20 London.

3.45 Women 3.35 Horoscope. GRAMPIAN: 11.00 London. 3.38 today. 4.10 Dr Simon Locke. 4.40 today. 4.10 Women News. 3.45 6.35 Cross- 6.00 Today. London. professor. 4.40 Nanny and the The Wild and roads. 7.00 Film: upon a time. 4.55 London.

Once the Innocent'. 8.30 Father, dear 6.00 News, weather. 6.05 Strictly 9.00 London. 12.15 Who father. 7.00 Scottish. 6.35 Crossroads. knows? 8.30 Father, Film: 'Dear Heart'. dear father. 9.00 London. 12.15 1.15 ULSTER: 10.20 London. 4.30 Epilogue.

BY OUR OWN

"possibilities for residential

CORRESPONDENT

conversion'. Until last Christmas, animals IN THESE DAYS of soaring were still using the shed on Greys Home Farm, opposite land and property values, 12th-century Norman Church, in estate agents will seek to turn The Street, Puttenham, near Guildford. any piece of real estate into a A spokesman for the agents goldmine. 'We have never sold said: in the heart of stock- thing like this before. We are Deep broker Surrey they have not in the least bit apprehensive come up with what must be their most about it. On the face of it, I original idea yet. Couples search- suppose it seems pay •a ot to for cowshed, but ing for a home are being offered one must for £7,500. think of its potential as a resid- stone cowshed ence after development.' Gazumping knows no bounds Buyers are reported to be not far cowsheds even as as are a little bemused when they turn concerned. month ago it was bought for £4,500 by a property up the 'property'. One to view The difference in prices sardonically remarked: 'It comes dealer. now is a mere 66 per cent.

to something when all my salary The estate agent's brochure will buy me here is a cowshed.

They will be offering us semi- enthusiastically describes the detached chicken-sheds next.' with shed cow-house, and The eight-page youth Plenty of news, views paper which leads the fight against. features at 3p a copy. the Tory government, for the Order your regular copy now.

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Chobham Farm men take fellow unionists to Court PAGE 12 Workers Press, Tuesday June

BY OUR OWN REPORTER

THE NATIONAL Industrial day ordered London dockers t from entering and leaving th tainer depot. The court also ordered dockers not to threaten to place a national 'black' on drivers whose lorries crossed the picket line. The application to the court was made by two members of the commercial section of the Transport and General Workers' Union against three dockers' leaders. It was the first time members of an unregistered union have gone to court seeking action against fellow trade unionists. The action was brought by Tony Churchman and William Cartwright - wh formed a Manual Staff Association to launch the case-and named the Pickets outside the Chobham Farm depot yesterday

LATE NEWS

THE

AUEW conference in Hastings yesterday unanimously called for the return of a Labour government committed to social- ist policies as the only way to defend the right to work.

Conference reaffirmed the resolution on the right to work carried at last year's conference.

the resolution Bill Moving Middlesbrough delegate, Purvis, . 'We have a right to earn a said. living. But school-leavers-who cannot sit-in or lock the factory gates—-are going straight on the dole. 'The Tory government does not have a policy of employment, but one of unemployment, which they try and use to press home their repressive legislation.

• we'll achieve what "The way we want is to return a Labour government committed to social- Ist policies. The conference also reaffirmed the AUEW. policy of non-co- operation with the Industrial Relations Act. A resolution from the National Executive called for a campaign national level, at district and day June 8, 1972 lustrial Relations Court yester- ckers to stop preventing lorries ving the Chobham Farm con- London shop stewards' joint committee plus Bernard Steer, Vic Turner and Alan Williams.

None the of named dockers appeared in court. The complaintants work for London (East) ICD, one of the largest cargo-handling companies the country in which operates the Chobham Farm depot. Churchman said the dockers' towards attitude him and his colleagues was 'You out, us in.'

Mr B. W. J. Llewellyn, chief executive of ICD, said the dispute was costing the company about - £12,000 a week. Miss Caroline Alton, for the complaining said drivers, 'another facet of. the case was container war. These men afraid are they are Miss Alton said the case indicated massive organization by the docks shop stewards in their move. to get ICD to take on registered dock workers. The picketing had involved not had only persuasion. There been threats of violence, abuse, and threats that in the event of a vehicle crossing the picket line it would be blacked nationally.

The Chobham Farm men had sought the help of the T&GWU without success. 'They consider they are being sold down the river by the union and have to the court as a last come resort,' she said. NIRC president Sir John Donaldson said that the orders would also bind all those who acted on behalf of those against whom the orders were made, they provided knew of the existence of the orders. 'We mention this because the courts take action against those who disobey their orders and those who assist in the disobedi- ence,' he explained. Any breaches of the orders, effective until the final hearing of the dispute, should be promptly the Court, said Sir reported to John. The case will come before the NIRC again on June 20.

including strike action if necessary to defeat the Act.

It called on the TUC to set up a joint fund of all unions to assist those unions who may have their funds sequestered. The AUEW also pledged full support to any of its members penalized by the Act.

WEATHER

ALL AREĄS will have sunny periods and showers which may be prolonged and heavy at times.

Later in Northern Ireland and western Scotland it may become more cloudy with some rain. It will be rather cool generally.

Outlook for Wednesday and Thursday: Sunny periods and Probably scattered showers. becoming cloudy with rain in south eastern England. Rather cool.

NEWS DESK

01-720 2000

CIRCULATION

01-622 7029 Registered as a newspaper at the Post Workers Office. Published by Press. Street. London, 186a Clapham High

SW4 7UG.

Printed by Plough Press Ltd. (TU), 180b Clapham Street. London. High

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Some of the depot workers who brough NIRC yesterday A POLICEMAN at the mine incidents outside Longarnet miners? leaders. Constable Robert Smith said at Dunfermline sheriff court that in his opinion the inci- dents February 14 on were organized by the miners' dele- gates, who were in the centre the road speaking to workers arriving in cars to enter the station. On one occasion, he said, he Graham Steele, heard Scottish miners' and area secretary agent, shouting to the pickets, 'Get into them boys. Steele is one of the 13 pickets who are 'mobbing' for and on trial 'rioting'. After Steele's arrest, he said, announces REYROLLE PARSONS of Hebburn, Tyneside, yester- day announced staggering 20- per-cent redundancies among manual workers. It means that 700 men will be forced on to the dole queues. The company is asking for volunteers and is offering 50-per- cent severance pay on top of the normal redundancy money.

In spite of the increased cash few volunteers payment, are expected, however, due to the already high unemployment situ- ation in the area. Over the past two years both Reyrolle and Parsons have decimated their labour forces in Hebburn and Newcastle. As well as redundancies among manual workers, the 80 men in the Reyrolle hydraulics division have been told they will have a 70 per cent cut in their work force. Staff redundancies affect- ing draughtsmen and clerks still have to be announced. Yesterday management also to the engineers' replied pay claim and offered £2.72-a-week increase on the basic time rate one day's, extra (CTR) and holiday a year. ho brought the case to court outside the le miners' pickets trial said yester garnet power station, Fife, had b

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

the pickets seemed to quieten down. 'Graham Steele appeared to be the number one person in charge,' he added. Pc David Kerr alleged he had twice been spat on from the back and he thought it was the accused Allan Currie. He alleged he was later punched in the kidneys and fell to his knees.

As he got up, he the saw crowd • surging forward. Currie, he said, was at the rear with his head down and arms outstretched pushing and shouting 'Shove the bastards into the road'.

THE CASE

against five sup- porters of the Saor Eire (Free Ireland) section of the Irish Re- publican who were movement said to have plotted in England to steal arms for use in Northern Ireland, was dropped at the Old Bailey yesterday. Mr Brian Leary, prosecuting, announced yesterday on fourth day of the trial that the Crown proposed to offer no evidence against the further accused and did not intend to for a conviction against press any of them. The five charged-an English- woman and four Irishmen-were accused of conspiring between September 1 and November 18, 1971, to possess firearms and ammunition and with unlawfully possessing three automatic pis- five magazines 56 tols, and rounds of ammunition. They were Patrick O'Sullivan (20), from Cork, Eire, Edmund Petticrew (37), a painter from Hackney, East London, Marjorie June Allen (30), a housewife of address, the Lawrence same McCrancles (23), a bricklayer of Chiswick, and Donal De Faoit (25), a dresser from Cork. All five pleaded not guilty to all the charges and Mr Justice Bean yesterday directed the jury to find them not guilty. They were all discharged. When the case opened last VICTOR FEATHER of the TUC was booed and jeered during a speech yesterday at the conference of the Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians' Union in Blackpool. As soon he com- as menced speaking there were shouts and catcalls from the militants. His speech was continually interrupted by shouts, jeers and whistling.

Before leaving Feather said: 'This is a demonstra- tion of the sort of thing which brings discredit on the trades union movement.

'You must forgive them because they don't under- procedures stand of behaviour at conference.'

Conference was suspended after Feather sat down. • yesterday he thought violent had been organized by local Kerr said he went forward to and in doing so detain Currie, the two fell to the ground struggling. Currie shouted for help from the rest of the pickets and a number of them came round anc shouted at him to let Currie go free. "They were standing with their feet ready and said they would kick me if I didn't let him go, said Kerr. Another police con- stable arrived and Currie came away peacefully, he told the court. The trial continues today.

Wednesday the prosecution offered no evidence against a sixth defendant, Martin Joseph Crawford (20) of Ladbröke Drive, Belfast.

JUNE FUND

WE ARE still a long way from ralsing our target of £1,750 this month. It is almost half way through June, leaving us absolute no time to lose.

The Torles don't rest for a moment. Each day they look for weaknesses and retreats amongst the union leaders In order to defeat the working class. We must redouble our efforts immediately. Our monthly appeal Fund is vital for producing Workers Press.

Your support for our paper has always been magnificent and we are confident that you will never let us down. So raise as much as you can.

Post all donations immediately to: Workers Press June Appeal Fund, 186a Clapham High St, London SW4 7UG.