at Bradwell Hell, Porthilly Neweastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
In his openin:: address, the Chairman, winkesardson| welcomed over 50 delegates who were from trade unions, tenants' associations and poliical parties, and commented that the conference was a step in the right direction, because 18 organisations were represented. The purpose of the conference was not to discuss housing preBlens , Dut to see whether the first step could be taken towards forming a National Federation of TenahiS'and Residents! Organisations, because go were many problems and they were not likely to grow less. Finance lies at the very heart of the problems in housing, so housing’ . must be considered as a social necessity and not as a means to accumlate vast profits. x The Chairman continued by saying that tenants move in isolation, without reference to a movement as a whole, end that this was one of our weaknesses. He quoted the Dirmincham Tenants' Association's example of United Action ( a campaign in which 15,000 tenents witheld increased rents) because he said it was necessary for tenants to unite and show .- .s their strength in order that the politicians may know that their protest is a protest with reason and strength behind it, lir.W.Gill, Secretary of the National Association of Tenants and Residents proposed én alliance between trades councils, trade unions and council and private tenants throughout the country, to sosdardinate research into tenants' problems. Mr.Gill said that we were talking part not in a regional move but a national one,beccuse we were up aca 2inst a natiord housing policy. There are tenants' "associations in Europe with up to 50 years experience. They are organised on similar lines to the trade unions in this country. He said that the tenants' organisations should not be seen as a political party as such, but they should widen their activities to deal not only with rents but with other social problems, too. Councillor Nixon said that Tenants '.ssocietions could be more effective in the fiele of hous ing; by meeting their councillors and telling them what is really needed to make accomodation comfortable for the Occupants. He said thet there should be no such thing as private building, that all building shoulc be nationalised and seen as a social services lire Skelton, from Sawley, in dealing with the organisational aspect, emphasised the point that rent should not necessarily be the central ¢ issue for tenants’ associarions, and quoted as an example of a broader programme some fo the projects entered into by the Sawley Tenants! Association.
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The following resolution was passed unanimously:- "We, the Delegates to this Midlands Regional Conference HEREBY RESOLVE to pesurn to our organisations with the urgent request that mandated delegetes be nominated to . attend an naugursd. meeting to be held in Newcastle-under=-Lyme on 6th November, 1966 in order to set up a Regional Committee end that an Acting Secretary be now appointed to make all necessary prior arrangements. s Mr.C.L.Allcock, 5% “iedj;ewood Ste, Woolstanton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, was appointed f etin; Secretary.