LABOR IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 19699, 28 October 1927, Page 7

LABOR IN BRITAIN

TRADES UNION CONGRESS MEMBERSHIP DECLINING. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, LONDON, October 2C. Tho ‘Gazette’ states that 200,000 postal workers have resigned from the Tiades Union Congress, and if 80,000 seamen secede it will bring the total loss of membership, including tho mining breakaways, to between <OO.OOO and 1,000,000. MINERS AND SEAMEN. THE NEW PEACE UNION. LONDON, October 26. Tho* pouoral council of tho Trades Union Congress supported the coinplaint of tho Miners’ Federation against the Seamen’s Union. Tho decision was sent privately to each organisation, but it is known that it gives tho Seamen’s Union fourteen days in which to disclaim its intention of supporting tho non-political Miners’ Union. Should the seamen not comply there is a precedent for complete disaffiliation or suspension for a period ot years. . . T i (The trouble began early in July as the result of tho executive of the union, bv 13 votes to 12, subscribing £IO.OOO to assist in tho formation of a new Miners’ Union, which was pioneered after tho strike by Mr G. A. Spencer, Labor member for Broxton. Nottinghamshire. Mr Havelock Wilson took up tho position of director or publicity for the now industrial peace union, Tho Reds were nob slow to show their hostility to Mr Wilson, and the Seamen’s Delegate Conference at the end of July was very lively, with many threats of violence. The cables contained the information at the time that tho antagonism to Mr Wilson was Giving to his support of the loan and his advocacy of withdrawal from tho Labor Party and tbq formation ot a non-political federation of unions. Notwithstanding tho fiery attitude of Mr Davies (secretary), the conference expressed confidence in Mr Wilson by 53 votes to 7, and a motion yvas tabled “to suspend the retiring age rule, so that Mr Wilson might continue in office until the Red movement was scotched.” It was at this conference that a sub-committee was appointed to report on tho conduct of Davies and others.] LABOR PARTY HARD UP, MORE ENTHUSIASTIC THAN EVER. LONDON, October 27. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, speaking m Ins constituency, said that the Labor Party was hard up. “I do not care who knows it,” he said. “Wo are crippled for finance, but more enthusiastic than ever.”