ANGER IN BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1944, Page 31

ANGER IN BRITAIN

OVER UNOFFICIAL STRIKES IN COAL & OTHER INDUSTRIES POISONOUS PROPAGANDA. OF NON-UNION MINORITY. (Special P.A. Correspondent.)" LONDON, April 6. Revelations that the coal and shipyard strikes have apparently been incited and tacked by the organisation calling itself the “British section of the Fourth International,” or the “Revolutionary Communist Party,” have created a sensation, and the public has strongly endorsed a decision by the Minister of Labour, Mr Bevin, to consider an amendment of the Defence Regulations in order to deal more drastically with persons who foment and encourage unofficial strikes. For over two years now the position in the British coalfields has been the subject of’ grave concern. First, there was some sympathy for the miners, who suffered acutely in many areas between the war years, but as time went on the public began to* get impatient and then angry with the miners, who seemingly were never satisfied. Disclosures that a body of 2000 members, who are “anti-British Government, anti-Hitler, and anti-Stalin,” who oppose the war, regarding it as an “imperial war on both sides,” and who, on the initial evidence, declaredly incite and encourage strikes, go far to explain the poison which has seeped into the affected areas.

A particularly fruitful field is found among youths, who by going out on strike have frequently caused general holdups. Typical of their ignorancce was a view expressed by young shippard and engineering apprentices who , went to London as a deputation to see Mr Bovin—who, of course, refused to meet them. One youth, when asked: "Do you consider coal mining important?” replied: “Of course it is not.” He refused to agree that Mr Bevjn knew the best use for their services.

These youths on their arrival in London were met by 31-year-old Jock Haston, national organiser of the “Fourth International,” and a 25-year-cld cripple, Mr Roy Tearse, who is reported to have been visiting many parts of the country. Tearse, according to the “Daily Mail,” would not leave Nottingham “till trouble had already started and he could make it worse.” These two met the youths and found them billets.

It is reported that the organisation’s funds come from halfpenny subscriptions and also from members’ donations. Mrs Mildred Lee, aged 25, who is Haston’s secretary, declared that she came from Johannesburg seven years ago to organise a movement “financed by Trotskyites in South Africa.”

Reports from some of the Yorkshire mining areas suggest that the older men are more and more resentful that 'hey ever had to strike, and criticise a young—mostly non-union—minority, which is regarded as mainly responsive for the stoppages. The view of the man in the street is that the Government should have taken drastic action earlier, and there is general hope that this will not long be delayed.