Don't let Clay Cross fight

Workers Press no. 964, 6 January 1973 · scan page 3

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two weeks of an open confrontation with the Tory government and its agents.

The shadow-boxing is over-en the final visit of the district auditor day-and the fight will shortly be out open.

It is almost certain that the district auditor will order the 11 Labour councillors to pay the £7,985 he calculates is missing from the rent revenue account as a result of their failure to implement the Housing Finance It that happens, all the councillors woula. not only face bankruptcy, büt automatic disqualification from office for five years—thus depriving Clay Cross workers of their elected representatives.

But such provocative action by the auditorwho is only carrying out orders from the Tory government- would almost certainly lead to industrial action by l manv of Derbyshire's 14.000 miners who have already promiser It would place the small exmining town in the forefront of the struggle against the Tory government.

Council leader Arthur Wellon has already made it clear that the 11 do not intend to pursue the matter any further through official channels.

'If they get rid of us it will be a blow against democratic rights,' he told me. 'But we've no intentions of taking this fight ding Thursin the support. out of the political arena. We cannot expect any justice from the present legal system, he added, explaining it would be a waste of time to appeal against any decision by the auditor.

'There'll be another ll nonimplementers to take our place,' said Cllr Wellon defiantly. 'In no circumstances will the Act ever be accepted in Clay Cross' Cllr Wellon said it was 'a sad day' when the Labour Party