~ peaking to 150 guests at the posh Mayfair Dorchuster Hotel, the chairman of Fords Motor Company, Sir Patrick Hermessy, spoke of the “wonderful year" Fords had had. During 1962 the company had invested.substantially more money that it made in profits-£40 millions in spite of suggestions that it was shifting its interest obrood.
In spite of all the company's troubles during the year, a record 270,000 units wore exported — an increase of 60,000 over 1961, he said. "we were biggest exporters in the motor industry and I suspect, we were the biggest exporters in the whole of the country." Confirming the repeatod allegations of Ford workers that the management was set on a collision course, Sir. Patrick Hennessy claimed that he knaw 1962 was going to be a “year of showlown." He went on to say “either we were going to get a reasonable day's work or no work at all." In spite of the fact that 38 militant trade unionists are still suspended, 11 weeks after the strike against the sacking of shop steward Bill Francis, Sir Patrick added: " So far nothing has gone wrong from our point of view, but that does not mean that ovoerything has gone right." Less than 24 hours later, union officials at Southampton were told that 108 workers on the Thames line wore to bo sacked Friday next week, Over 600 of tho man at the plant are alresdy ona four-day os wool.