BRITISH LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 32

BRITISH LABOUR

3IORE CONSERVATIVE ?.

AN OUTSIDE VIEW

A survey of the British Labour movement associated with the recent Trades Union Congress appears in "The Economist." Its leader writer says: "If any proof were needed that British labour has a great deal more to lose than its chains, last week's Trades Union Congress would supply it. In the T.U.C. the outlook and interests of the average working man are more accurately reflected than anywhere else. And, by common consent, no congress since the war has been more 'conservative' in temper than that held this year. "The British trade union movement is the strongest in Europe, perhaps in the world; and the T.U.C. General Council was able to report that membership is again increasing. "Unquestionably the movement owes its survival and its success mainly to the fact that, throughout its history, it has been realistic rather than dogmatic, preferred the substance to the shadow, and known —with some exceptions —when to preserve existing benefits and when to ask' for more. "Equally unquestionably the present leaders of the T.U.C. are in the tradition; shrewd and severely practical men who understand a bargain, distrust catchwords; and know well enough that as long as the British working man's hours and wages are protected, he cares little whether his leaders call themselves comrades, knights, baronets, or dukes. DEFENCE OF DEMOCRACY. "Nowhere has the good sense of the T.U.C. been more apparent than in the decisive enthusiasm with which it has rallied to the defence of democratic institutions. There have been some superficial critics who supposed that the episode of the general strike and the firm stand made by the T.U.C. against Mr. Mac Donald in 1931 were evidence of a contempt among trade unionists for the essentials of Parliamentary Government. And in the last few years there have been various, if insignificant, '.disruptive elements' within the Labour movement itself which, . largely on doctrinal grounds and for factional ends, have attempted to weaken the workers' attachment to Parliament. "This year's congress, even more than that of a year ago,' has demonstrated the futility of both sets of critics. Not only did . the delegates formally uphold the general, council's decision to refuse co-operation with all non-democratic groups; but even the critics of the anti-Communist .resolutions showed that they were inspired, not by a love of Communism, but by a desire to preserve the democratic character of the trade union movement itself. "The leaders of the general council were in some danger of being called 'dictators' for attempting to enforce the exclusion of anti-democratic elements! Without doubt the T.U.C. is now as powerful a force within the Labour movement making for strictly Parliamentary methods' as the cooperative movement is making for freer trade. READ THE LESSONS. "This is because the British trade unionist had read aright the lessons oil the last fifteen years of Continental history. He realises that democracy is everywhere the greatest friend of working-class interests; that in democratic countries the workers' standard of living is highest and in 'authoritarian' countries lowest; and that it is the very success of democracy in promoting a juster distribution of wealth that has, in fact, led to attacks upon it by the privileged classes. If the British trade unions forgot all the other lessons of history, they would assuredly not forget this one. "In calling for the immediate introduction of the 40-hour week without reduction in wages, the congress was consciously building on the solid gains of the past, even if in this instance it allowed its enthusiasm to blind it somewhat to some very genuine practical snags. "It is natural that a working-class organisation, impressed by the coincidence of mechanisation, unemployment, and apparent over-production, should turn to reduction of hours as the obvious remedy; just as it is inevitable that individual employers and individual countries should point out i that shorter hours without lower wages must mean higher costs. "The obstacles to the introduction of a 40-hour week are more substantial than most speakers at the congress cared to admit. But the end is in itself desirable; and we may consequently welcome the persistent pressure towards it which the T.U.C. quite properly maintains."

More than 200 convicts in the Sao Paulo Penitentiary, Rio de Janeiro, went on a hunger strike after rioting, when they broke windows, smashed furniture, and battled gaolers until overpowered by the guards. After order was restored and broken heads mended, the convicts started their hunger strike. They demanded the rescind-