from Tony Topham The regional steering committee which was elected in early December, met for the first time in Leeds on December 18th, Present were local convenors and other committee members from Leeds, Hull, York, and Sheffield. Leeds reported that they aimed to establish their Centre early in the New Year. Hull representatives discussed the desirability of forming a CSE there which would be in the first instance distinct from the Hull Labour College - it was agreed to convene an early meeting to discuss relations between CSE and the College. Sheffield reported that they were holding their inaugural meeting on the following day. 92 people had been circulated about the meeting, including the list of addresses which had been established by the steel workers! control groupe. Several lecturers who had been concerned with that project had expressed their support. York Centre had already been formed.sees(Bditorial notes see elsewhere in this issue) It was felt by the committee that Yorkts initiative could help other groups in thinking out practical forms of development. A long discussion took place on the general principles which should be incorporated in any advice or guidance which the Region should give to local Centrese This developed from consideration of the points raised in a discussion paper submitted by John Saville to the committees. (Editorial note: this is also reproduced elsewhere in this issue)...eIn disuussion on the paper, it was suggested that it might be too academic and dry, too limited to the locality, (stress should be laid on the links between local and national CSE) and that generally education was more than "desks and chairs". CSE should not be limited to drawing people to its meetings, but should be prepared to go out to union branches, factory gates and canteens (lunch-time meetings), etc.
Sheffield convenor Pete Smith reported that their plans included one-day conferences on the "Non=-Union Shop", "Anti-Union Legislation", "Immigration" and "Steel Nationalisation". It was agreed that the key to the CSE local strategy, as outlined by John Savillets paper, lay in organising and devel~ oping contacts between socialists and trade unionists who combined an industrial militancy with a political commitment to the left. Various auwendments to the paper were suggested, and it was agreed it should be treated as one of a number of possible models or guide lines. A regional conference on incomes policy and anti-trade union legislation was discussed: it was felt that local centres should themselves promote this topic in the first place, and that evidence be collated as to the support which such a conference could expect at regional level, If we decided to proceed with it, the aim would be to hold it by next April, Discussion of the role of CSE in relation to students! socialist societies had to be postponed, The National Steering Committee was asked to clarify the financial arrangements between itself and the localities, At present all money from subscriptions was being centralised, and it was expected that local centres would need funds themselves, THE WEEK AND THE NORTH HULL BY- ELECTION: We have received many articles, letters, etc. on this question. We are publishing a balanced selection. However, we must make it clear that we identify ourselves with the Voice papers ~ particularly the Humberside edition - on this question. We do so more in soriowthan anger, It is sad to find ourselves arguing against our colleagues in the Radical Alliance and we trust that we work together on many issues in the coming months despite this difference on tactics,