SECRETARY OF MINEWORKERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25390, 13 January 1948, Page 7

SECRETARY OF MINEWORKERS

MR ARTHUR HORNER’S POSITION v COMMUNIST AND LABOUR ALLEGIANCES (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 12. The Wigan by-election has placed Mr Arthur Horner, national secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, who is a Communist, in an awkward position. The clash between Socialists and Communists has, among other things, resulted in the Communists’ adoption of Mr Thomas Rowlandson as their official candidate for the byelection. The Socialist candidate has not yet been adopted, but the National Union of Mineworkers have recommended their solicitor, Mr Ronald Williams, as Labour Party candidate. The question is, which candidate Mr Horner will support. Mr Horner has stated that in any matter affecting the union he will always act in accordance with whatever seems his duty to the union, adding that “my position is not in question.” His neutrality, it is

commented, will be helped by the Labour Party’s own rules, which prevent a Cdmmunist from sharing in a Labour candidate’s election. The Communists have shown some concern about Mr Horner’s position in the union, and at a recent executive meeting they produced a resolution asking that continued confidence be placed in him. The executive sidestepped by proceeding to the next business. It is recognised that the executive was in a difficult position, since to adopt a vote of confidence might be interpreted as support for Mr Horner as a Communist. At the same time, the executive is reluctant to suggest that it lacks confidence in a secretary who has worked hard to discourage unofficial strikes and has cooperated in trying to increase coal production.