The Newsletter, vol. 6 no. 273

ground in the Nevada Desert. Preparations for this test have clearly been in hand for some time and the announcement must inevitably lead a worsening of international relations. It is act of sabre-rattling at a time when the danger of war is constantly growing.

The right-wing Labour leaders have once again assisted the Tories in the propaganda groundwork for the test. At the Labour Party conference last October, the impression was deliberately created that the H-bomb issue had receded into the background-at the very time when the test was being prepared.

Frank Cousins and others were a party to this fraud when they should have been leading an all-out fight against Gaitskell, Brown and company. They allowed them to hoodwink the conference in a manner that could only benefit the Tories.

The wishy-washy reaction of the Parliamentary Labour Party was summed up in the Daily Herald of November 13 as follows:

Labour MPs are angry that a nuclear test should be announced without either the Minister responsible, or the Prime Minister, appearing personally in the House.

'Until now nuclear testing has been treated as the most serious of all decisions.' Presumably the information about the test been received much more favourably had strolled into the House of Commons and announcement.

The struggle against the H-bomb has now reached a stage when it can no longer be left to the Parliamentarians and trade union leaders to make militant speeches at conferences.

The Tory government prepares for war in the same way as the Kennedy administration. For the Labour movement the main enemy now, as in the case of all imperialist wars, remains at home. The struggle against this new test will be meaningless unless it is linked to an all-out fight to bring down the Tory government.

Here is the weakness of the pacifists who have consistently tried to prevent members of the Socialist Labour League, participating in demonstrations, from raising the demand: 'Bring down the Tories. Those who try to separate the political struggle against the Tory government from the struggle against the H-bomb create nothing but confusion and greatly weaken the fight against the H-bomb.

This fight must now be carried resolutely into the factories and all branches of industry. Token strikes of protest should be organised immediately. Mass demonstrations should be called in all the main cities.

By testing nuclear weapons the Tories are continuing the Cuba crisis. Industrial action designed to bring down the government is the only answer to this new war threat. would have Macmillan made the

By Our defeated if trade unionism is to survive at Dagenham. They can be defeated if the shop stewards appeal immediately to all trade unionists engaged in motor car production to stand firm with them.

A meeting of all shop stewards' committees covering motor car factories should be called without delay. What Fords are doing today, the other employers are going to do tomorrow. Contact should be made at once with the shop stewards of the Fords' factories in Detroit and West Germany.

Prompt action along these lines will give heart to the whole movement and recover the undoubted setbacks of the past few weeks.

The big trade union leaders cannot be relied upon to struggle. These men are looking for a formula which will postpone the strike and then, because of the nearness of Christmas, make it virtually impossible to call one.

Either the fight takes now or defeat is certain.

It is reported that at its meeting on November 11, the execu tive committee of the Communis Party had before it a resolution from its Fords' branch. Thi resolution called for all-out actior to defend trade unionism at Fords.

It is clear that Communist Party members at Fords want the full resources of the party in the trade union movement mobilised to defend them in this life and death struggle.

The party executive took a decision instead not to embark on rank and file action but to put pressure on the trade unions to stand firm.

This is the escape clause which in the past has brought defeat after defeat for shop stewards on strike in all parts of the country.

It is true that a few of the smaller unions are prepared stand firm, but, with the connivSTOP PRESS:

The postponement of the Ford strike is the first stage of a sellout by the trade union leaders.

The longer the strike is put off the nearer it will be to Xmas and the less likelihood of being successful. Industrial Correspondent Fords must be ance of big trade unions, Fords have obviously prepared a plan to answer this.

The most important decision was that of the Electrical Trades Union, which has decided to support the strike from Sunday.

It would be a naive person, however, who would place reliance upon Byrne and Co. to win any kind of struggle.

One thing is certain, the ETU under right-wing leadership is not going to fight for Communist Party shop stewards.

Whilst it is therefore correct to bring the maximum pressure on the trade unions to call an official strike, it is completely wrong if this pressure is not backed up by the readiness of the rank and file to organise their own leadership should the official leaders give up the fight- as they undoubtedly will.

The decision of the Communist party leaders cannot possibly bring the Fords' management to heel.

It is particularly stupid since these leaders have information that the next big attack against their members is now being prepared at London Airport.

It is common knowledge that two leading right-wing trade union leaders are ganging up to get rid of the Communist party members from the airport.

A retreat on the Fords question could mean the decimation of the party strength in a number of important factories.

Despite our fundamental differences with the Communist Party, we say that this would be a blow • back page, col. 1 The retreat by the trade union side of the Ford negotiating committee is to be expected.

Only national rank and file action by the shop stewards in the motor industry can save trade unionism in Fords.

nat activities useless established Lab Blendo Southwark's Ray The of Commor class union conditions night. The i infinite be paid. the that it be are that buildpin-striped Labour Recently, The that the with Tories' and ca should be and of Board Trade has offered to vote on it, but they it, but the 100 per cent Labour the last place o visit in order hold talks with Merseyside Labour Council should rehouse to win for that, councillors creates the Mr. Gunter listened p the the essential points, was no that the Tories help, in Huyton, told us that Labour tenants told of broken from the statement of the the drive against the led Europe the war not replaced on end, the Trades Council class t , cheapen everything would be fine no unlighted insanitary On the day of the lobby, halt the fall only the Tories lavatories. of the Trades the demonstrators advice. Joe local leader Council and certain ' Left' to see their Tory MPs in case ' We grovel organi: er the lobby, appealed Labour councillors ised a they not of the serious- strengthen en, he to Mr. Gunter, who is well known classified calling for resolution in the ide to be re- city this basis, Merseyside Merseyside! unemployment wor- general Tories elect of ion. winning the coming weaken Labour's They help No, the for his the Borough tenants right-wing views, to and to Council on behalf speak Akers might as well disband the Tories the impression the flats for himself. Trades Counci and send their that they are concerned at the Crighton of lunter, of course, promised delegates increasing rate of unemployment tion of Shipbuilding and Engine- op what could, but many ment with this. With will introc Unions unwisely said, the tenants dissatisfied with ployment steadily rising, they get the Tories out! and with the will be happy 'develop' the watched the TV That was it. The slogan pedalling of Bent, who was with new factories - City the London demon now taken up by the rank and file, shouted down when he lared labour the Council leaves for this tion said it was pathetic to to the annoyance of the platform. that the landl hac sloyed. week o : business and, the Tory-appealing slogan 'We workers clearly who improve of the ill usions want work'. The television enemy is . feeble by the executive of the Trades this slogan, but leadership mp on Council and other 'Lefts', is able marchers who their mili with Cou before American Gay that. he 'Out the with Fords' with the Tories' bosses' and appeals to that to help the lobby had been a waste of solve the time. Mr. iter revealed his lobby, drew up a statement of with attitude to the 40-hour on unemplo! even call for week /ment which the executive told the Hall, the Trades meeting in St. meeting they London If the help to further lobby and the tenants when he would be prepared to campaign support from the local Labour was asked industry. move ensure an had decided that the should lead this lership they will, Party for the tenants should be conducted under all, decide withold their rent. the only: work! He quickly explained that could not encourage anyone break the law, even the of • who dare Tories and landlords. criticism Asked if he was nationalisation the land the building industry by next Labour government Gunter said, Yes, but party policy' SOVIET All those involved hurry to fill the 'theorel ical over housing should begin also ositio nists approve, void' which was referred to at the to call a halt to the farce of that National Socialist move- general, the line of the Alger 22nd the CPSU lobbies and delegations and, with ment warded off the threat of Communist Party, but rebuke year ago. assistance of the local Labour the destructive and atheistic French CP for limiting its While Stalin trade union movement, set trine of Bolshevism. mands to the carrying out of whole number of fields is of organising a Here also a parade Evian agreements and speaking more frequently really effective campaign, which Red Front Fighters para- of 'fruitful Franco-Algerian co- is little sign will drive straight into the military units of the basis absolute of theories to take the of the labour fascist grou ps in Britain have Party) who, on Stalin's orders, equality'. being discarded. weed out spotlighted the need to understand never went into action. And the FLN now Mstislav Keldysh, councillors and the social roots of fascism. is Stal in himself, in 1939, sha obscure, si nce effer stive the Academy of for out Tory The recent book hands with Ribbentrop at the power the hands of only example, claimed that in the past Some Pictorial History of Nazi of the faction, which, claimed historical selves favour of a Leiser's film, Mein Kampf Germany (3/6), based on Erwin while prints Not the programme of least important, this 'socialist ideological had heritage of the classics been and the d file Party trade leaving much to be desired party with its demagogic regards of Marxis n had been belittled. tenants, lau camanalysis, provides a vivid for nationalisation of the trusts, having disintegrated-despite Science, he said, 'has ignored and of the most powerful fascist profit-sharing, protection the still ignores practical It to date. middle class and so on wh find it for several years. According problems'-once again, together we see the the their place in the policies him the army is now the main of the Algerian revolution. as a result of Stalin's influence. France, too, of Stalin's the philosophical of fanatical and theoretical racial- oppositionists Voie errors of Stalin are being emists who might well Communiste have phasised more sharply than at Ino dismissed as of no significance. Algeria from the Pabloites on this time since 1956, at le ist by some especially the Kirkby French Communist housing estate.

We sec them winning mass sup- question. They correctly criticise port in days crisis, of Germany's with the ALGERIA remains the classic and oppose Ben Bella, reasons which reflect their but for decided to conference everything unanimously backing of big business smashing case of the disaster which social basis in France. leading Communist philosopher its power to convince the setting follows from supporting bourgeois left-wingers and once the apologist for Labour of the The persecution of the Jews, the ovens, all Germany on the camps, covered road to war. nationalist movements. wing press, A look around the French left- including the papers in Algeria in dismayed by and are the the of Zhdanov-Stalin ideas, the It is now Stalin's philosophical significant that become a principal only necessity possible Tories. action for the against the photographic history. Communist parties, shows a pre- philosophical errors of Stalin are As one delegate "The ists, Nazi salute: 'their armament, Here are the leading industrial- including and they Krupp, giving the aim was re- saw that it ance of the dominance Bella-and, naturally, tacit accept- which ensure French of support for Evian capital a in Algeria, mainly, the gives Socialist Revolution' its support to 'The Communis it seems, by te Party of founded now France done Stalin's being attacked. either in to examine power and Nothing is br the USSR ing replacement government government pledged to social- ist demands is now a vital by of Labour Tory could Hitler.' Here be achieved only through are the lents in place in Algeria. comes from Pablo and his The most fulsome sup- Algerians who have Whatever the virtues returned from of greater freedom to break consequences of Stalinis philosophical teaching of from the Stalin is Discussion took place on the working class.' question for the whole of the which leaders declared: 'we are happy to recognise and will achieve outstanding suc- cesses in national and Socialist the Austrian movement has that the economic National achieved Catholic actions of brother Ben Bella. tendency regards the Tripoli programme as porters who are ready, The endorse so-called in the French CP' also to the full 'revolutionary all enable it to tical force. mains to be both and roots in which the C hold the hands of in leaderships the party. the USSR privileges today in of the and to enable Garaudy to pre- bureau- their need to increase the circula- other League literature. was reported that the financial position of the branches was tion of The Newsletter and It policy for the German Reich and in its social says as 'socialist'. backs Ben Bella and little as possible against of the Ben Bella at the tortions of Marxism others, such operatio as lead to noting the healthy growth of sound, which is sign people, especially th poorest the Evian agreements.

a ge Th

• SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1962 1550 6, No. 273 THE North-west branches of the Socialist Labour League held their area conference on November 4. It was the most representative gathering of the League ever held in the area. Over the last 12 months, League membership has increased steadily and all the branches are meeting regularly with full attendances. elegates were representative of the majority of the chief industries, amongst them building workers, miners, engineers and electricians. he discussion centred on a political report made by the secretary of the League, Gerry Healy, who stressed the danger still remaining as a result of the Cuba crisis. settlement arrived at between Khrushchev and Kennedy, far from alleviating the threat of a Third World War did, in fact, increase this danger. It was, he said, a settlement which strengthened the reactionary forces in the United States. = called for all-out action by the Labour movement to bring down the Tory government as the most positive contribution which could be made in defence of the Cuban revolution.

the activity of the League in relation the Cuba crisIs. All members were active • pa in Ine organisation of public demonstrations especially in Manchester and Liverpool. A lengthy discussion took place on the development of the work in a number of industries. Plans were laid for the formation of new industrial factions and the broadening of those already in existence. ne serious unemployment situation on the Merseyside was dealt with by a number of delegates.

leading building worker pointed out that the Lobby of Parliament could not possibly solve the unemployment problem. In 1959, he said, there were 25,000 unemployed on | Merseyside when they went to lobby Parliament. Since that time some new industries, notably Fords, have moved into the area but the unemployment figures have now reached the high mark of 36,000.

The movement of these industries did not solve the problem of unemployment. It was something which Concerned all those workers who are now enjoying employment. The fight against unemployment begins in the factory and not at the Labour Exchange.

Youth speakers stressed the serious problem of unemploy- oy• p. 2, col. 5

Act will be amended give stiffer Ities to fascists— those who break This only Mr. Brooke suggested that action against race-hatred might also be taken under the laws dealing with Sedition. He went statement! If 17 unon to explain that a person who 'speaks words or publishes of politics by other more employed rural labourers and 48 million landless peasants is not matter calculated to provoke breach of the with the forcible means, then the democracies depressing, I should like know intention of stirring up hatred border dispute between China bourgeoisies. what is. or hostility between different 'deal promptly with and India passed. The " This stage Bonapartist has now member of the Commonwealth Again: Firstly, • a It is a is guilty of sedition. classes of the Queen's subjects The Tories intentions are very the public peace'. extension caste-ridden politics capitalism into the of the of Indian realm of Henceforth chauvinists curer has about their will have to played his own hides, the communo- that is being attacked and if the thing at all it means that members help one another in trouble? Commonwealth ideal means any- strikers It is obvious that this legisla- can be applied to socialists. demonstrators, for people who try to stop them, clear. Fascists are given the all clear to go ahead with their meetings, the police are waiting military aggression, interests by no means What is the Commonwealth not just racialists. harsher penalties are being preible attempt to coincide with the defence ideal? It is a euphemism invented In fa Brooke himself pared for 'disrupters' and the tionary China from unifying the USSR.? New Internationa by the Labour leaders in 1945 to camouflage the grim reality of the plained applied to the that this legislation stirring up of Sedition laws, with their limitless penalties, are being kept in the her territory defining Vol. IV, No. 12, Dec., 1 Empire, that vast sweatshop which natred or hostil ly on the ground background. frontiers. contributes its labour to keep the of race as well as on any other Of course, a few fascists The war Indian capitalism wheels of British monopoly (My emphasis-J.G.) will be arrested from time to doubly is a war tionary. Firstly, waged against neitl the Daily Worker, the executive of the CPGB ler worthwhile noting serves as a useful outlet for capital capitalism turning and which export as well as a source of super the offence is punishable by Brooke also pointea out 11. -1 time. But how gaoled by the that? Wasn't very class that Hitler once important is workers' state; secondly, it is by yet uttered a word of profit. and imprisonment and later handed power over to its very logic a war primarily against these infamies. It is a capitalist cartel held is no limit imposed him? intended to strengthen the posi- On October 28, the Chinese together by Imperial Preference, penalties, which There can doubt, as be little tion of th e Indian capitalist class People's Daily published a 20,000 the British Crown and the British at the discretion unemployed demonstrations start vis-a-vis the Indian working word article which made an ex- Army, Navy and Air Force. again, as big struggles loom up in the haustive analysis of the border the mines and railways, as emment. conflict. ployers like Fords try to smash That why the first victims It showed the close connection When Harold Macmillan gives Under the Public Order Act shop steward organisation, that the var have been the leaders between Indian capitalism and unstinted support to Nehru he is 1936 three months gaol or f50 fine this repressive legislation will be the Left wing in the Com- foreign imperialism, outlined the history of the dispute, attacked the not motivated by any idealism or both may be imposed on any- against the working class. munist Party who refused to Yugoslavs and the Dange faction, about the Commonwealth. He is concerned about the insulting words or behaviour with one who uses threatening abuse or Welcome allow the Indian labour move- referred to the need for proletarian British-owned tea estates the intent to a breach of the That, of course, does not preinternationalism, quoted the pre- hundreds of millions of pounds peace. vent Mr. George Brown from cedent of the Chinese Eastern sterling invested in the Indian Under the 1908 one welcoming the review of penalties Railway and proposed measures economy. month's gaol or £5 and calling for 'wider changes' in for a peaceful settlement. When a pompous philistine like be imposed on the law.

The Daily Worker (29/10/62) Fletcher asks us to support India tries to break The Daily Worker called made a short resumé of this im- he is only trying to provide a meeting. Brooke's proposal 'some minor portant editorial but significantly sophisticated excuse for British- The government change in existing law' and called tarian internationalism in general omitted any reference to prole- subsidised against introduce harsher for-further legislation. China. under both these acts. ' For the first time, said the in particular. and the Chinese Eastern Railway use turning to Daily Worker If we want the truth Tribune or the no he had in mind when he called on members on both sides to Mr. Brooke made it clear what 'this country has a splendid chance to win a law against racial hatred. Worker editorial of November 9, support action to 'discourage The opportunity must not be The for this coyness The first task of tish Bri those who imagine that the right missed.' not far to seek. In 1929, when Marxists to reject and way to deal with speakers whose Brooke's statement makes clear the pro-Japanese warlords of expose the lies, hal f-truths and views they dislike is to resort to sort of action we can expect Northern China made an un- distortions of the Tribunites violence themselves' the State. It illustrates, once expected attack and illegally ousted and Stalinists. He said the government would more, that all those who call for the Soviet representatives from the be 'getting into deep waters' if it such State action not only spread strategically vital Chinese Eastern prohibited known racialists from confusion the workers railway, the Soviet Union replied holding public meetings. They but also ex with a swift and effective punitive could, he said, rely on the police dangers. expedition into Northern Manchuria, which restored Russian AT the Organisation for Economent to be manacl pa control of the railway. broken-down chariot was correct decision ment meeting in Paris in a mic Co-operation and Developcapitalism. which helped to stren! then the fortnight's time, Mr. Maudling Whatever differences defences of the Soviet Far East separate th from Trotskyist comrades ove- we invasion. against The People's Daily dealt with projected industrial Europe re-stimulate will be that the big urging countries their economies, cision taken nationwide must no welcoming this have patriotic frenzy— in courageous de- the teeth of a hesitation in this precedent in detail, explained in opposition to this anti-Soviet how the Chinese CP organised mass meetings and demonstrations recent measures and will his own of what should b refer to e done. as an capacity and falling profits huge reduction in purchase cars. This measure intended not is the able. that amounting More public to an increase of 10 investment and a syste natic campaign of provocation and compared it with The reduction in purchase tax only to help the manufacturers per cent for the coming year-is intimidation the Left. and slander frontier. the situation on the Indian on motor cars, the increased capital allowances awarded to engineering manufacturers who but also all the component and likely to send soaring, but this measure, too, is building costs of their right-wing colleagues in voting confidence in the Nehru government thereby Un the other nana, the actions — and en- analogy and is was ignored by Worker. Why? But all this and unassailable. Because the much the Daily more will mean public investment unless there are businessmen and appropriations the additional omic suicide also buoyant depend on them, and the steel manufacturers whose production not likely to lessen as its object the reduction of now approaching mark. Former capital investment had unemployment, the 600,000 dorsing the arrest of their own trading conditions in Europe. costs, that is the reduction of comrades - will stink in the The increased amount ot pur- labour costs. Automation and chasing power released by these new electronic devices are only nostrils of Indian every Chinese worker. class-conscious tendency in prices and an adverse measures will mean an upward introduced where they can make a contribution to profits by disIt is an action reminiscent First World War. German social democracy in the nausea. Raymond Fletcher, an ex- effect on the competitiveness of balance of payments situation— British exports- and on the contribution to profits. steel sheet makes couraged by Maudling's measures, pensing with the need for labour. New capital investment, enTrotsky anticipated Mr. Dange and company expression of centrist, Tribunite Trotskyist, is a consummate line. unless European capital keeps in capital investment is to Their answer to the drastically decline in that even with increasing pro- Will accelerate this tendency, so more than 20 years ago when he politics. He combines the out- Maudling's measures represent increase tax reliefs users of duction, less labour will be rewrote: 'The growth of imperial- look of a provincial clerk with one big gamble. But it is a plant machinery. A free gift quired.

ist antagonisms, the obvious the patriotic prejudices of a gamble he has had to take because from government of 30 per Moreover, the various stimulants proximity of the war danger and peasant and the organic deaf- the danger signs in the economy new plant means that for prescribed by Maudling are going the equally obvious isolation of ness to revolution of a parlia- are too obvious to ignore. every £100 of plant purchased the to cost the Exchequer some £300 the USSR must unavoidably mentary cretin. His method is Rising unemployment, surplus manufacturer is in effect only million overall, the greater part of strengthen the centrifugal that of a Stalinist; his theme: capacity of manufacturers, falling spending £83 17s. 6d. this largesse benefitting the intionalist tendencies within that of a patriotic rascal. profits and a decline in capital All his capital expenditure dustrialists and the middle class.

Comintern. Let me quote two examples of investment cannot be allowed to be written off against profits The government's revenue is less 'Each of its will his method. On India he states, continue if the Tories are to retain a period of not more than and its proposed expenditure begin to evolve patriotic 'The Indian balance sheet since political years instead of 30 years. more. You can be sure that it policy on its own account. independence is not a depressing But a wave of a magic wand Taxation will be much reduced will be the mass of the people who Stalin has reconciled the Com- one' cannot solve all their problems. for the capitalist and profits will will be called upon, in due course, munis parties of mperialist What under- Their proposed ution to surplus increase rapidly-provided mak good the difference.

TO a meeting of engineers, ETU members, Young Socialists and members of CND held in Glasgow last Sunday, Alec McLarty, engineering factory worker, announced that the Rank and File Labour Congress had been witch-hunted by the Right wing of the Glasgow City Labour Party (who had "instructed' Labour Party members not to attend) and by the right-wing leaders of the ETU.

But despite this 'ban', , more than a hundred people attended —the majority of them in their teens.

Special invitations had been sent to the Glasgow Committee of the Communist party, but no reply had been received.

Neither would the Daily Worker insert an advertisement for the Congress because it did not have enough information about the sponsors of the meeting.' Mr. McLarty pointed out that the Daily Worker had been supplied with full details and the delegates could draw their own conclusions from their refusal. In spite of the Communist party ban there were a number of CP and YCL members present.

Roger Protz, the editor of Keep Left, who was the main speaker, opened by saying that it was not true that he had said, when last in Glasgow, 'death to Gaitskell'. In fact, he wished Mr. Gaitskell a long and happy refirement from the Labour Party leadership.

This he thought should start as soon as possible-a suggestion that was loudly applauded.

The theme of the Congress was the fight against the witch-hunt and Roger Protz pointed out that this was closely linked with the danger of nuclear war, since to Correspondent fight against war we must fight for socialist policies and against the Tories.

Trade union speakers emphasised the danger of unemployment in Scotlana and the need to fight within the trade union movement to implement bans on overtime and for a reduced working week. Young Socialist speakers pointed out that the youth who were unemployed were particularly vulnerable to Tory attack since they were in many cases unable to join trade unions while they were out of work.

Resolutions were put before the meeting expressing solidarity with the electricians of Kincardine in their fight against the Right wing witch-hunt in their union and calling for support for the building of rank and file committees within the trade union and labour movement.

In closing, Alec McLarty said that the significance of the Congress was, that unlike the meetings organised by the official movement, 'a cloud of dust was not blown into the eyes of the rank and file' On the contrary, they were able to get down to discussing some of the problems facing the working class and hammering out socialist policies to deal with them.

The Congress cost a total of £40. Donations for expenses had been received from factories, trade unions and other sections of the labour movement. The collection taken at the meeting raised £18.

against the working class. If it does take place then the responsibility will rest on the leadership at King Street who operate their policy of peaceful co-existence as one which means class collaboration with the employers.

THE NEWSLETTER and the Socialist Labour League call upon all members of the Communist Party and militant trade unionists not to stand idly by and allow the organisation at Fords to be smashed.

National and international action along the lines that we have advocated will, we are sure, bring the most results.

The 70 workers at Fords, including 12 shop stewards, whom the management have refused to reinstate, have now been out of work for five weeks.

The workers have formed a Ford Victimised Workers' Committee which is urgently in need of funds in order to campaign in the trade unions to have their jobs restored, together with Mr. Bill Francis, the shop steward originally victimised.

Donations should be sent immediately to Mr. J. Cross, 28a New Road, Dagenham, Essex.

The Scottish NUM should start to campaign for this NOW.

SOCIALIST LABOUR LEAGUE PUBLIC MEETING Liverpool LEADERSHIP AND THE WORKING CLASS (How to fight unemployment, hatred, witch-hunts)

Stork Hotel, Queen Square, 7.30 p.m., Sunday, November Admission 1/-

Industra Newsletter From BOB SHAW, Our Scottish Correspondent •HE tragedy at the Barony pit in Ayrshire, where four miners were killed last week at the pit bottom by an avalanche of mud, lighted the problem faced by miners in to protect their jobs.

1,200 men have been declared redundant because collapse of the pit shafts. It was while these shafts wer filled in with dirt that the accident occurred.

The Scottish press reported that the shafts used in the Barony pit were of the square type. These are cheaper than circular shafts but. heing lined van varrio with wood, they are liable to rot and therefore not so sate.

Mining is a dangerous occupation. The danger is heightened by the cheap-jack building of the old coal owners.

When accidents such as this occur, the miner finds that he is not guaranteed other work. The NCB have announced that not all the 1,200 men from Barony will be found employment elsewhere. Those not found jobs at other pits must sign on the dole.

Pit disasters are therefore not only tragedies for the dead but also for the living, who are deprived of a livelihood.

Pits in the Stirling area are being closed, too. 1,420 men are affected here.

In the mining village of Cowie one-third of the men will be thrown out of work. A similar situation faces a number of other communities, some of them fairly large, like Cowdenbeath.

According to a survey conducted by the local council, 17 per cent of families interviewed in the town were either themselves moving or had relatives moving from the district.

DEPENDENT ON MINING 60 per cent of the families in the area are dependent on mining. Almost all those interviewed thought that the district faced a decline in prosperity.

The need for action in the mining districts of Scotland is now urgent.

The leaders of the Scottish NUM should immediately, and unilaterally, call a conference of the areas affected by closures to decide on a policy.

There must be an early reduction in the working shift. All miners thrown out of work by closures or pit difficulties should receive a full wage.

has hightheir fight of the : being no to overtime

THE North London District Committee of the AEU endorsed a resolution this week for a campaign to achieve a national ban on overtime while a large number of workers are out of jobs or working short time.

The measure could be a first step towards creating jobs and, in many cases, compelling firms to take on a number of young school-leavers and unemployed workers.

On hearing the decision, however, the Executive Council of the AEU informed the District Committee and the branch which initiated the resolution that the DC cannot use any of its funds for the purpose of such a campaign.

It seems that the DC can agree to such campaigns but under no circumstances put them into action.

This is an outrageous attack on trade union democracy by the executive and in contradiction to AEU national committee policy, which calls upon the union to resist redundancy by every means possible.

William Carron and Co. are determined to prevent any measures which would bring into action the rank and file and jeopardise the amicable rela ions between themselves and the employers.

Risa for Carron

At the same time Carron ensures that he receives a rise of £9 per week, to the applause of the Daily Express which thinks that union leaders should earn equal money along with their counterparts on the employers' side.

It is not accidental that at the same moment as Carron raises extra money for himself he places further restrictions on action by the membership which would begin to challenge his privileged position.

The Daily Express is aware that the more money the general secretaries have, the more removed they become from those they should be leading.

The District Committee must find a way of campaigning for this demand regardless of the right-wing manoeuvres.

strike at Kincardine Bridge three months ago was found guilty in the Dunfermline court last week of assaulting Mr. Frank Chapple, right-wing leader of the ETU, He was fined f5.

The incident occurred when a meeting was called by the rightwing executive of the ETU and the striking members were excluded from the meeting.

The man who was appointed steward of the Kincardine Bridge power station site during the last weeks of the strike, Mr. Devlin, was present in court to give evidence for the prosecution against Bill Sneddon.

Another witness for the prosecution was a Mr. Meredith, on the staff of one of the contracting firms on the site. Police evidence was also called.

The activity of the Right wing has so far failed to crush the hard core of the strikers' leadership. They have, on the contrary, fought back with every weapon open to them in the union.

Members of the ETU should demand a rank and file enquiry into the actions of full-time officials and executive members during the strike. • Money is still needed for the court costs, and contributions should be sent to M. Gillespie, 96 Kinseat Avenue, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire.

AST week 2,000 Hull dockers stopped work over a dispute icerning the collection of union es in the control buildings.

In Thursdays, pay day on the iks, both the Blue (NASD) and White (TGWU) unions collect ir members' dues.

ast Thursday there was a wy rainstorm and the Blue ion collectors took shelter in control building.

No sooner had they got their le and chairs inside than they re ordered out. Later they ted that when they refused to the police were sent for and y were threatened with severe ciplinary action.

Dockers of both unions were ious when they heard this and cided to stop work. The White ion always has its table inside : control and yet nothing was d to them about getting out.

During the meeting the Port bour Officer for the control Juted for the men's books so it they could claim attendance y. Some of the men did not ar him and when they took ir books to him a little later, is customary after meetings, refused to accept them.

As soon as news of this spread, ani other dock immediately stopped WC ork in sympathy.

The dockers went back pending ne! gotiations over the issues be[WI een their union delegate, Mr. Jir n Ginley, and the National DC ock Labour Board.

Registered at the G.P.O. as a newspaper Published by The Newsletter, 186A Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4 Printed by Plough Press Ltd. (TU), r.o. 180 Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4