White Paper means: more jobless, prices up and wage freezing

world capitalist system and not simply on Britain.

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186a, Clapham High Street, London, S.W.4. these closures, the area council of the NUM, intends to Paynter's advice, collaborate with the Divisional Coal Board in 'ensuring smooth re-depolyment' When the closures were first announced the area council of the NUM, at a special meeting on October 17 voted to oppose the closures.

After this, however, Sid Schofield telephoned Will Paynter, and the outcome was the following letter, dated November I1.

With reference to our telephone discussion on the problems the area union is facing arising from the Board's decision to close the Monckton collieries, ! would like to submit the following observations for consideration by your council meeting.

First, let me say that I appreciate your difficulties as an area this closure upon those directly or indirectly affected. 1 personally had the experience of dealing with and trying to stop simultaneous closures of seven pits when I was President of the South Wales Area.

Further, it is necessary to see the Monckton closures in proper perspective. It is necessary to undertand that this is not just a out in the White Paper on Fuel Policy of October 1965. I quote a few relevant passages from it :

'The aim now must be to improve the position of the industry by further concentration of production on the economic With this in view the Board will seek to accelerate the closure of gross-losing pits that have no prospect of moving out of that category!

It further states: 'The size of the industry within the framework set by the General Fuel Policy will depend significantly on its success in reducing costs. Relieved of the double burden of unprofitable collieries and past capital debt and with the successful prosecution of the NCB's own policies for improving the health of the industry, the economic part of the industry should be able, with rising productivity, to increase its output and its market?

Indeed to facilitate the acceleration of the policy of pit closures the government has made available £30 million on a pound for pound basis with the Coal Board to assist in manpower deployment and other consequent problems.

The National Union has repeatedly pressed upon the government the need for a co-ordinated fuel policy based upon indigenous resources and for a slowing, down of the closure programme. We are meeting the Minister again to press this and to get his replies to earlier submissions. But this policy is a fact of life and its effects are more severe in some coalfields than others.

Taking 1965 and 1966 together there have been 88 collieries closed, mainly in four coalfields: Durham, Scotland, South Wales and Lancashire. In some of these pits tens of millions of tons of coal reserves have been available but incapable of being extracted on a profitable basis.

• mention these a particular closure taking place is therefore action against government policy.

It is, I suggest, unlikely that any government will capitulate before the threat or the fact of direct action, particularly if thai action is only sectional in character. In fact, we have recognised fron the start that the whole union cannot succeed in changing government policy without the active support of the whole Labour and trade union movement. This is the policy of the union and it is the only one that has the prospect of ultimately succeeding. proceed with the divisional board to ensure the smooth redeployment of the Monckton men.

Yours sincerely, After the receipt of this letter a further special meeting of the Yorkshire area council was called. After the letter was read the previous decision to oppose the Monckton closures was rescinded by 65 votes to 37 and instead a resolution was passed 'requesting the Monckton and all other branches to co-operate with the Board in the redeployment of men from the Monckton Collieries'.

At the same meeting another resolution was passed: 'That we cannot agree to the request of the Monckton branches for a public inquiry into past capital expenditure at the Monckton Collieries'.

Thus the right wing in the area leadership, backed by 'Communist' Paynter, refused the demand of the rank and file to fight against closures.

Miners throughout Yorkshire know that if the Monckton closures go through without a fight, others will follow.

Paynter, like all the Communist Party leaders, is unable to fight this because he is unwilling to fight the Labour government.

Talk about 'the active support of the whole Labour and trade union movement' is a smokescreen for doing nothing-as YOUNG SOCIALISTS GRAND XMAS BAZAAR Saturday December 10 at THE CORN EXCHANGE LEEDS 1 Christmas gifts : Prizes Galore : Special attractions for all the family Be sure to see the wonderful range of stalls This is set

The Communist Party talks about the present crisis as if it had something to do with • Wilson's economic stupidities. Nothing of the sort. World capitalism has revealed once again that it is going to attack the working class, especially in the major capitalist countries, in order to solve its problems and difficulties.

Because the Communist Party is nothing more than a talking shop and a 'left' cover for Wilson it cannot but betray the working class in the coming period. -They are sponsoring a conference in London on December 3 but according to the rules of this gathering, no binding decisions can be taken.

take lots a in in the ma t take part of the time making their Jong-winded speeches as usual. of the Communist Party, but do nothing because you might make Mison That has her Belie fied to soviet toreien who, they • met bureau might anger salaries the dole constitutents time that the rank and Demands Labour JT down a motion in the Pa in mentors care • no conider EMAND it resigns and then b repared to replace Wilson an the other right wingers who support it.

IF Wilson will and the Parliamentary Fi demonstrate and lobby the Houses of Parliament as never be inevitable.

FORCE the Wilson cabinet to rebefore destroy This does automatically mean a for simply a leaders of the Labour Party as APPRENTICES' VICTORY THE BOILERMAKERS apprentices at the Fairfield shipyard have gained a partial victory against the management. After striking for an increased payment given to journeymen earlier this year, the apprentices have forced the management to give in-the ayment will be made, but for a shorter period than claimed. • See page four for fuller story.