At its moeting which was called to considor resolutions submitted for sonding to the Annual Conferenco from the City Party, the following rosolution was assods ° “That this conference vicws with alarm tho tondency towards monopoly of the pross, with a consequent slanting and conditioning cf public opinion and in view of this anti-democratic tendency we urge the Labour Movement to take urgent stops to establish a press undor domocratic control,"
Owing to the way tho meeting was organised only two resolution wore reccivod for considerations one which called for the renunciation of nuclear woap= ons couldn't be discussed because no dologate from the organisation sending it in turned up at the mooting, The other callod for the Parli®montary Labour Party to cupaijn for tho establishing of a Royal Commission to investigate the monopolising of tho press. This was amended by a right wing delogate to call for the Labour Government to take urgent steps to deal with tho question. When a left wing delegate moved the amendmont which mado the resolution read as above, the chairman attempted to prevent it boing discussed by asking whether the delegate's organisa~ tion had mandated him to move it. He was put con the spot by the answer from tho left wingor that he had no more mandate than had the previous mover of an amondment.
The discussion centred around two points,the right declaring that the Labour Movement couldn't maintain a press and Cited the oxperienco of the Daily Herald and the Roynold News. Tho left replicd that it was because those papers were not under democratic control that thoy were unsuccessful. iventually whon the vote was taken, a right wing teller announced that the amondment had been lost by 15 votes to 14. Tho left demanded a reccunt, and the result was then declared to be 16 for and 15 against.
At a mocting organised by tho Nottingham Left Club Ernio Roborts spoke on the new trade union and socialist paper that ho and othor trado unionists and a number of M.P.s are sponsoring (seo previous issues of tho Bulletin). Ho said that incentive to start the now paper arose from the nocd to unite the loft insido the Labour Party, no existing papor could fill this need, Whilst the pa por would not be in competition with Tribune, tho latter didn't fill the neod. It is hoped thet such organisations as lMi.C.F., Unity, V.F.S. would take a page, and there would also be a youth pages Thoro would be local supportors Groups who would mect and discuss the contonts of the paper and there would be a national conference cach year. The editorial board would be compsei so as to avoid proscription and tho experionce of the Socialist Outlook would not be repoated. Tho meeting was attended by between 25 and 30 poople, many found it difficult to get with it being a Saturday afternoon and others wore committed at the International Co-op Day celebrations. The discussion was serious and business like and all spcakers pledged support for the paper and welcomed it. The audience was mainly industrials the following unions boing represented: tho A.Z.U., U.5.D.A.W., Fire Brigades, T.G.W.U., Clerks, N.U.R.; Tobacco Workers, Motal Mechanics, Teachers, and thore wore several shop Stowards.