NOTEBOOK
MR. BRIGINSHAW'S INDIGNANT REPUDIATION
I N our issue of April 9 dealing with the election of a new General Secretary of the National Society of Operative Printers and
Assistants to replace Mr. Isaacs, the present Minister of Labour, Mr.
R. W. Briginshaw, who is a mem ber of the Executive and Governing Councils of the Society has com plained that our reference to him is grossly defamatory of him because by falsely stating that he is a member of the Communist party it suggests:
(a) that he has committed a breach of the decision of the
Governing Council made under the Rules of the National Society of the Operative Printers and Assis tants which states that no member of the union may hold office who is a member of the Communist Party -.a decision which is well known to all Trade Unionists and in particular to the workers in the Printing Industry, and (b) that he is therefore guilty of had faith towards his fellow trade union members by his being a member of a political party and deliberately concealing the fact.
We are satisfied that both suggestions are false and we tender
Mr. Briginshaw our apologies and completely withdraw the suggestions made concerning him.
We further apologise for suggesting that the false information be
copied and passed around else., where and request anyone who followed our advice immediately to correct any statements they may have made at our suggestion.
OUR CONGRATULATIONS
MR. Briginshaw's repudiation of the unfortunate allegation makes us very happy, and we should like to congratulate him on the firmness and completeness with which he has made it.
We can only hope that the true facts will be made very widely known: first, the fact that Mr. Briginshaw is not a member of the Communist Party, and second the fact that he himself thinks of any allegation of his being a member of the Communist Party, in the terms which we have made clear above.
MAY DAY PARADES
MAY Day in London which should MAY have been a day of demonstration of the solidarity of all workers, finished up as a publicity stunt for the Fascists and Communists.
The London Trades Council Rally, at Hyde Park, was attended
by very few trade unionists, and the Communist Party appeared to be in control.
The Daily Worker stated that "at least 50,000 people had taken part in the march to Hyde Park," but having stood in the rain watching the contingents pass I put the figure at no more than 10,000, and I am being very generous.
Mosley's demonstration was a complete " wash-out," and another opportunity for the totalitarian branch of anti-Fascists to create further disorders.
Neither of these factions, Fascist or Communist, has any right to represent the workers of England, and yet they were allowed to do so. It is time the word " Boycott " was
dropped and " Leadership substituted.
C.S.C.A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE
RC. Whyte, Secretary of the ACTU National Liaison Committee, tells me that the Rev. P. J. McNamara, of St. Peter and Frances, Prestatyn, North Wales, will celebrate Mass at Prestatyn Holiday Camp, on Tuesday, May 25, the first day of the Annual Conference of the Civil Service Clerical Association which takes place there.
All Catholic delegates will have the opportunity of attending, and the time will be announced the evening before. It will provide a sheens for delegates getting to know each other.
T.U.C. NEWS
THE Trade Union Congress are to ask the Minister of Labour to increase the lodging allowances of .transferred workers to 30s. a week. Another announcement from the T.U.C. states that 50 trade unions representing 3,200,000 members have now agreed to mutual recognition, without qualifications, of the cards of those of their members who come under the Control of Engagement Order, on the understanding that the T.U.C. will review the whole question before the end of the year.
NEW ZEALAND T.U.
Com MUNISTS suffered further
setbacks in the recent elections of the New Zealand trade unions, when three Communist members of the Trades Council were ousted from office. The main victory was the defeat of the President of the Trades Council, who was also the Chairman of the New Zealand Communist Party.