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At a conference held at the A.C.T.T. Hall, Soho Square, London, on Sunday 2nd. December, the new Trade Union and Socialist paper was officid@ly launched The conference was attended by about 60 delogates coming a number of towns including Bristol, Birmingham, Coventry, London, Nottingham, Southend and Wolverhampton, Among the unions reprosonted wores A.CoTeTey A-DoUey Abode seeTey CoireCobey 3.T Ue, iiotal Iiechanics, N.U.J., N.U.Peiey N.U.R., Shootmetal Vorkers, T.G.17..U-, and U.S.DeAclie Tribune and Young Guard, all of whom greotcd the forthcoming publication of the paper and gave the conference the benefit of their experience in running their papors (N.B. these details are not complete because there was no credontials report and very few of the speakers gave their name and organisation)
The conference was business-like and got through a surprising amount of work despite the lack of material preparation. Another significant foature was tho fact that, unlike many conferences, there was very little haggling or wrangling, and even those who had a different point of view from the platform and the majority of tho delegates put their criticisms in a positive way. John Ubor, Secretary of the liovement for Colonial Freedom, was chairman of the first sossion and Anthony Greenwood took the chair in the second. The general approach of participants was that in a venture of this kind in the first stages there had to be a great deal of trust and latitudo given to the sponsors of tho paper. A decision was taken that there would be a conference of supporters of the paper six months after commencement of publication. The sponsors, who in the mean time would act as an Jditorial Coun~ cil, would submit a constitution to that conference which would include arrangenents for the election of the Uditorial Board. In addition to the sponsors, where there are functioning supporters groups these would nominate people to attend the Sditorial Councils.
Ernie Roberts, who led the discussions and gave the main reports, said he was very much in favour of supporters groups. He also gave details of thoso people who had agreed to serve on. the initial Wditorial Boards: Frank Alluan, Cyril Cooper, John Sber, Richard Fletcher, Jim Garst, Sidney Hyam, Urnie Roberts, Gordon Schaffer and a representative from the Youth Zditorial Board. It is also hoped that Jim liortimer of D.A.T.A. would be able to come one The paper is to be printed by the Northern Labour's Voice print shop which already prints 18 local deditions of the 'Voice' paperse There wore ocight suggestions for the name and the final selection was. put in the hands of the ‘3ditorial Council. The paper is to start in February, and if possible be in the hands of local groups by the 25th of January this being felt better than rushing a January issue. The paper will probably have responsible for a given area was accepted. Another suggestion “that to get the paper rapidly established, approaches should be made to Trades Councils to help in circularising of T.U. branches, ctc. Local groups should organise this and send speakers to TU. organisation,, L.P. wards and other organisations. A fighting fund is to established and the local groups are to be asked to help to ensure that the response from local T.U. branches is successful. Regional machinery will be established where there is a basis for ite
The most controversal question was that of the statement os aims of the paper. There were two points of view. The first being that to differentiate itself from other papers, and thus establish a reason for its separate existence there should be a concise and detailed statement of aims. The other point of view was that to ensure maximum unity of the left, the key question of clause fours and the corollary of fighting for a Labour Government whose policies would be in the spirit of clause Fgur, would suffice. Proponents of this point of view argued that to include a list points would inevitably lead to splits before the paper got going even, A proposition. supporting the latter point of view was supported by a large’ majority, this proposal also included, to mect the arguments in favoured of a det— ailed statement of aims, that in the first issue there should be a statement of policy covering a whole range of political questions.
Other decisions taken included that of having a youth section (at least a page) with an independent Jditorial Board. Foatures would include at least a page of letters (it was agreed the letterd column should be as unrestricted as possible.) There would a woman's section with the emphasis on the problems of the problems of working housewives. In this short report many points have been missed out but more material will be published. Finally we call upon all readers to support to the full this new venture. In particular they should help in the formation of : SuRpOR tay s groupse Reports and suggestions should be sent in for publication. ee ww: tee icin. ; a=