THE FIGHTING VIEW.

Grey River Argus, 29 March 1922, Page 3

THE FIGHTING VIEW.

MINING POLICY IN ENGLAND. Tlx* Miners’ Federation of Great Britain is, at the moment (December), suffering a rapid, almost consumptive decline. Its rank and file are deserting it. It is no longer tlx* ordinary rot that sets in after a defeat. The usual stampede of weak-kneed and weakminded members who never really deserved to be in the union at all, has been overpassed. Members of long standing and enthusiastic rebels are both alike beginning to refuse contributions. . Separate unions are being formed. The fantastic “Scottish National Trade Union Association,” formed under the employers’ patronage, has been followed by the new Stoneyburn colliery union, formed by Left Wing-ele-ments. At the same time enginenien ami others are breaking away into craft unions. Discouragement, bankruptcy, chaos. Such is the present position in the mining fields. What should be the policy of the Left Wing elements? What is the policy of the Communist Party? It is first agreed that craft unionism is not to be tolerated. The efforts of the Left, Wing elements in the coalfields should be turned to exterminating the various craft unions of enginemen, surfacemen, and all the rest. Our objective is one industrial union—a British National Miners’ Union. The attitude of the Communisms must therefore be to drive the cracksman back to the general mass of their fellowworkers. Does this mean back to the M.F.G. 8..’ If so, are we committed to a general support of the M.F.G.8.? Always and everywhere these new unions should remain within the Federation, and provision should be made for their future incorporation within a Miners’ National Union, to the establishment of which their policy should be exclusively directed. We cannot go right out to kill the weakened federation. It is yet a considerable body, and one which cannot rightly be described as dead or nonexistent. We have to tackle the matter at the root —the country associations. We have to use them as a basis from which to turn the M.F.G.B. into a real union, which it has never been. And the first step towards this is the expulsion of all the existing leaders, who, in any way, share responsibility for the recent disaster —Black Friday.—R. Postgate in London “ Communist. ’2