IN BRITAIN TODAY Tory policy on trial on Upper Clydebank

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 9

IN BRITAIN TODAY Tory policy on trial on Upper Clydebank

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter copyright. Cable news digest)

LONDON,

The events now taking place on the Upper Clyde will have an impact on the British industrial and political scene that will be felt far outside the confines of Glasgow and its shipbuilding industry, writes an N.Z.P.A. correspondent., On trial is the whole of the Conservative Party’s “stand-on-your-own-two-feet” philosophy, grid by this Friday it will be possible to judge much more clearly how far Mr Heath and his Cabinet are prepared to pursue their present extremely tough line. That British industry needs a thorough overhaul is an undeniable fact. The two main questions are: Who pays the price?; and is profitability always the ultimate, and only, aim? Mr Heath and his colleagues have not really answered the first question in a positive way; the negative answer they have given, however, has been a dramatic one.

What they have said, in no uncertain terms, is that it is not going to be the Government, and indirectly the taxpayer, who will pay the price. HEAVY LIABILITIES

The Upper Clyde Shipbuilders consortium, formed three years ago by the Labour Government, had, at its collapse, liabilities of £32m, and had taken losses on contracts signed shortly before and after its formation of £22m. It blamed its financial dilemma on frequent strikes, wage increases and rising production costs, but said it had orders worth £6om on its books. The Minister of Trade and Industries (Mr John Davies), when he announced that a liquidator was being appointed, said that he had acted on the basis of an independent report which saw no immediate or, for that matter, long-term prospect—of U.C.S. becoming a going concern.

Looked at in a hard, cold business sense, there is no doubt that Mr Davies made the only decision open to him. What is now up for discussion is whether the cold, hard business decision is always the right one, and whether profitability is the principal goal to be achieved in every situation.

“A GENTLE COUP” The workers on the Upper Clyde have made it clear that they think otherwise, and have executed what the “Guardian” has described as “a gentle coup.” The take-over of two of the yards, the workers’ leaders say, is not a revolution, but an attempt to force th- Government to recognise ij political and social responsibility to find jobs for the men who will be made redundant when the yards are closed.

, Nearly 9000 men are employed by the consortium, and if present plans are carried through it is expected that fewer than a third of this number will be retained on the payroll. Aggravating the situation is the fact that unemployment in Scotland and around Glasgow in particular—is already more than three times as high as the British average of just on 3 per cent. For the out-of-work breadwinner of the Clydeside there is the bleak prospect of the dole and a struggle to keep home and family together. This is the spur which is bringing the workers back from their holidays to man the yard gates around the clock, in a last, desperate attempt to retain their livelihoods.

Shop stewards have appointed a management committee to run the yards, which they took over on Friday. It comprises representatives of staff, workers and senior management.

If the Government goes ahead with its plans, there is little doubt that, in the end, the workers will be forced to give in. There is .also little doubt, however, that this will bring with it tremendous bitterness and, perhaps, violence. OUTLOOK GRIM In an atmosphere such as this, it is difficult to see how the suspicion which now exists between the labour movement and the Government can do anything but increase.

With stalemate, the likelihood of any rationalisation of Britain’s present economic situation decreases, and the outlook for the future looks grim arid foreboding. What is needed, political observers say, is a degree of conciliation on the part of Mr Heath and some new initiatives that would help to halt the spiralling unemployment, now approaching the million mark, and the atmosphere of hopelessness that prevails in many parts of the country at the moment. . The Prime Minister re obviously pinning a great deal on entry into the Common Market. • This, however, is still a year and a half away, and there is every indication that the Upper Clydeside situation, and others like it, will not wait that long for an answer.

The bitterness in political debate is intensified by sear-

Result of new

divorce law

ing memories of unemployment between the two world wars on the Clydeside, long a centre of militant radicalism. Workers recall the towering silhouette of the luxury liner Queen Mary left unfinished for a long period, The “Guardian” says in an editorial that the Clyde yards are “a monument to the Victorian era, contrasting painfully with post-war Japanese yards, which have unlimited space and weatherproof assembly sheds.

Five other shipyards, on Tyneside, closed this week because of an unofficial pay strike by 3000 ancillary workers.

The Tyneside yards are owned by the Swan, Hunter Company, Britain’s largest shipbuilding group, which has development and management responsibilities for shipyard enterprises in Trinidad, South Africa, Singapore and Malta.

The Labour-controlled Glasgow City Corporation, by 57 votes to 12, has called for nationalisation of the . shipbuilding industry. Steel plate deal in doubt British shipbuilders who have sought to place orders for about 300,000 tons of heavy steel plate in Japan for shipment in 1973-74 may have to seek alternative sources, “The Times” reports. Interest in Japan as a supplier sprang from the Government’s decision, in April of this year, to raise the 20 per cent limit for foreign content in British-built ships. "The Times” says that several inquiries have been received by Japanese producers, but that reports from Japan indicate that steelmills there are unlikely to negotiate further. One of the reasons for this is the demand for Japanese restraint by West European steel interests through voluntary Japanese control on exports to their markets. Another factor is the difficulty foreseen in negotiating prices which could take account of any Japanese losses arising from revaluation of the yen. Bid to save old vessel ■A campaign to preserve the 693-ton Waverley, the last sea-going paddle-steamer in Britain, has been launched by the British Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. The vessel, the oldest of its kind in Europe, is owned by the State-run Caledonian Steam Packet Company, and sails on lochs in Western Scotland.

“She is of unique, historical importance and is on a par with the Great Britain, the world’s first iron ship, which was recently brought back to this country from the Falkland Islands,” Mr Andrew Patrick, the spokesman for the society, told reporters. “At present she makes a loss, and this could be her last year in service. We want to try to persuade her owners to keep her sailing. “She is worthy of operation far into the future, and if we can enlist the support of local hoteliers and tourist organisations we could get her reconditioned and refitted in time for the Clyde Fair International in 1972.”

A substantial increase in the number of divorces in England and Wales has been shown in the first seven months working of the “easier divorce” law.

Actual figures for divorces since the new act came into force in January have not yet been collated, but they

are expected to show that the Law Society’s estimate of ; an increase of 15,000 a year was conservative. In the past, divorce cases had increased by an average of 5000 a year. The new law makes “irretrievable breakdown of marriage” the ' sole ground for! dissolution. “RUBBER STAMP’ JUDGES Contested divorce cases are now almost non-existent because the real fight between estranged couples oyer money, property and children is invariably heard after the decree, before a judge 1 and in private. Divorce Court judges—who once had to try the issues 1 between the parties now ‘ find themselves virtually acting as rubber stamps in granting divorces. As one ' Law Society divorce expert ■ has put it: “If husband and 1 wife both say that their ' marriage has irretrievably broken down, who is thei Judge to argue?” Spouses who. under the • old laws, would have hotly 1 defended a case, now feel ’ that it is just not worth it ' when their partner can obtain ’ a divorce after five years ! whether they like it or not. Under the five-year ; "divorce without consent” . rule, judges have the power to refuse a decree if the party who does not want a divorce proves financial or other hardship. “These five-year cases have not really come before the courts yet, and it will be interesting to see what ‘other hardship’ means,’ a . Law Society expert said. ! “There may be cases in . which a person will say that , religious conviction comes , into that category.” Meanwhile, the new law ’ continues to work smoothly. ’ The speed with which a case ; can be brought before a . court has increased, and in some courts is as little as 1 eight weeks after the petition ; is filed.

Confidence in Commonwealth

The Commonwealth Sec-retary-General (Mr Arnold Smith) says in an article in the quarterly magazine, “Crossbow,” that he believes Britain’s entry into the European Common Market would make the Commonwealth more important, both to the 32 Commonwealth countries and to the European Community itself. “The fact that Britain s role in Europe may develop into one of partnership with the Common Market countries does not mean that Britain will have less need for relationships with nonEuropean countries,” Mr Smith writes. “The modern Commonwealth provides a living tissue of working relationships, traditions and administrative habits, helping to bridge divisions of race, development and economic status.

“I wish the future potential of the Commonwealth were better understood by Commonwealth countries who still think of the association as revolving only around Britain, and who equate British entry with the incipient demise of the Commonwealth.”

Paris visits

made easier

Britons are being offered, from next January, a threeday holiday in Paris for £5. This includes the return air fare and two nights accommodation in one of 50 Paris hotels in the scheme.

The flights are being arranged by Skyways International, a British independent airline; in conjunction with a Paris travel agency. Skyway’s managing-director (Mr John Knox) said that such “package” trips were possible because the airline, and the hotels, wanted to fill off-season space. “At this price, eyen customers on the most meagre budget will have something left over for the good food, night life and culture of Paris,” he said.

The three-day holidays wilb be available from January to j March and from October to' December next year.

justice that a United States Air Force officer, Captain, Thomas Culver, was convicted by court-martial at Lakenheath, Suffolk, on July 13, for taking part in a demonstration against the Vietnam war outside the embassy on May 31, and of soliciting fellow-airmen to take part. About 100 people, including 20 American servicemen, took part in the protest this' week, a delegation x>f six of’ the servicemen presenting ! the petition to the embassy after a silent march from Hyde Park to Grosvenor Square. All 20 servicemen taking part in the march realised that they could be prosecuted immediately but said they thought it was worth it if it resulted in something being done to allow free expression by servicemen based in foreign countries.