BRITISH LABOUR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2143, 28 December 1920, Page 8

BRITISH LABOUR.

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS. SOME BIG AMALGAMATIONS. By CabU. — Press Association.—-Copyright. "The Tims*" Sermot. (Rec. Dec. 28, 12.40) LONDON. Dec. 27. A special. correspondent of the "Times," declaring that communism is raising its head weekly amongst the unemployed in Great Britain, savs the communist societies have followed up Moscow's dictiun that the faithful must earn their fitness for affiliation by undertaking revolutionary propaganda in the army. He says the British Army has lately been fully recruited from a magnificent stream of sturdy and the communist societies, whose membership is now 6060, draw attention to the fact that demobilised men are making a great effort to capture their organisations. The Ermcipal association, the National 'nion of ex-Soldiers, popularly called "Nux," seems at present largely in communists hands. -It teaches the principles of Marxism, and has drawn up a long programme demanding the national ownership of land and capital, and popular control of industry. Many agitators, and even conscientious objectors,"have secured affiliation with the union as associates, and are leading such movements as the seizure of houses. , The correspondent does not comment, but points out,that the union has 480 branches, and an estimated membership of 100,000. The Labour correspondent of "The Times" says the New Year will be marked by important developments and amalgamations in the Labour world. j First will be the establishment of a general council, replacing the Parliamentary Labour Committee of the Trades Union Congress. The council will consist of 30 members, representing 17 trades. There will be five sub-ewmmittees, representing* the groups of allied industries, with a strong full-time secretariat. The administration expenses will be £25,000 a year. The duties of the council are to watch industrial movements, co-ordinate, where possible, any industrial action, promote common action, settle disputes, and promote propaganda and the international relations of unions. The membership is now 6,000,000. Secondly, a ballot is proceeding,, for the amalgamation of the four' great general workers' and municipal employees' unions, the membership of which is 3,000,000. It will be the largest single union in the world. Thirdly, 19 unions connected with the docks, and the waterside and road transport workers are amalgamating, with a membership of 500,000. Fourthly, the engineering and ship-building trades unions are amalgamating, with a membership of 460,060. Fifthy, the warehouse unions and co-operativ." employees are amalgamating, with a membership of 260,000. Sixthly, I'ie printing, bookbinding, machine n !ers and paper workers are amalga tating, with a membership of 100,' 00.