(Friday) Yesterday's Closed Session to discuss those sections of the NEC Report which the apparatus men and women do not want to expose to the full glare of publicity, evoked a lively discussion on "Disputes and Enquiries" and the Party's attitude to youth, On "Disputes and Enquiries", Clive Jenkins called for a change in the disce iplinary machinery of the party. The NEC should make plans now for next year's Conference to introduce an Appeals Tribunal to which disputes could be referred, These plans should be published as soon as possible so that affiliated organisations and Constituency Parties could send in amendments and suggestions. The reference back of the section wes moved by: Mike Gerrard who questioned the constitutional validity of the expulsion of Ken “Coates. “He dlso pointed out that there was no reference in the report to the ‘legal action which had cost the Party £310. The case for Ken Coates, he considered, was ripe for review and reinstatement, This Central, Only the delegate from Nottingham West supported the NEC action, The delegate from Harcourt, while supporting the need for appeals machinery, deplored Party members and former Party members taking legal action against the Party. He did not say what he expected expelled and suspended members to do when they came up against the blank wall of bureaucratic obstruction baulking their legitimate efforts to get back into their party, An Appeals Tribunal on which the rank-andfile Party member is adequately represented would overcome this hazard, There was lively criticism from Young Socialists om the section of the report dealing with "Youth Organisation", They demended more say in their own organisation, the right to elect their own National Committee, control of their Own paper and the right to discuss politics at Regional Conferences. "After all," as one delegate said,"that is why we join a political party", Reference back was also moved on the section dealing with NALSO and the NEC was asked to re-open negotiations with this student body, All reference back resolutions were declared lost on a show of hands,
HHH