Party News Briefs
Party Officers and Executive Committee members elected for 1949 are as follows: General Secretary, C. Groves (Ealing); Assistant Secretary, C. May (Paddington) ; Treasurer, E. Lake (South West London ); Assistant Treasurer, K. Curzon (Paddington); Trustees, R. Ambridge (Islington) and F. Groves (Ealing) ; Central Organiser, J. D’Arcy (St. Pancras) ; Auditors, F. Lawrence (Bloomsbury) and N. Stovold (Paddington). 46th Executive Committee: E. Hardy (Bloomsbury), A. Turner (Paddington), C. Groves (Ealing), G. McClatchie (Bloomsbury), E. Lake (S.W. London), R. Ambridge (Islington), J. D’Arcy (St. Pancras), G. Waters (Kingston), H. Waite (Marylebone), S. Cash (Fulham), R. MacDowall (Lewisham), C. Lestor (Leyton), S. Hampson (Ealing), J. Thorburn (Glasgow).
The office of Literature Secretary which has previously figured on Party ballot papers was abolished by Conference decision last Easter. This work is now performed by a committee appointed by the E.C. Comrade J. Thorburn is now living in London and will be transferred to Kingston Branch.
Lewisham Branch, has, during the past ten mouths, carried out an extensive canvass on the Bellingham L.C.C. Estate. The average sales of the SOCIALIST STANDARD during this period have been 96 per month. Lewisham members are carrying out a well-prepared plan. After a house-to-house canvass with the SOCIALIST STANDARD, at a later date they again cover the ground, calling on those workers who purchased our journal, and offer one of our pamphlets. They continue to retread the same streets at intervals with other pamphlets for those who have shown interest in our case. The pamphlets are taken round in a regular rotation and the total sale to date is 191. The pamphlets that sell most readily are “Socialism,” “Nationalisation or Socialism,” “The Racial Problem” and “Russia Since 1917.” The branch is now arranging to hire one of the school halls on the estate to hold a meeting to which it is hoped to attract those workers who reside at Bellingham and who have read our literature. It is hoped to be able to give news of this arrangement next month.
The Parliamentary Committee has suggested to the Executive Committee that favourable consideration should be given to the proposal to contest the East Ham South constituency at the next General Election. This is a compact constituency served by our West Ham Branch, which, we reported last month, has a membership of 75. The matter has been discussed with the branch and the Parliamentary Committee’s recommendation meets with branch approval. Other branches have sent suggestions about the possibility of contesting other constituencies. Paddington Branch is already campaigning for the contest in North Paddington. Plans have been made well into the future.
Kingston Branch reports that it is having a quiet time. The attempt to run a series of indoor meetings at Malden did not meet with much success and was discontinued before Christmas. There appears to be no political activity in the locality at the moment. Members are anxiously awaiting the warmer weather in order to bring out the outdoor platform for the 1949 season.
The Socialist Party of New Zealand writes, “Our position is about the same. There are more young people showing an interest, so things are a bit brighter. There are indications of conditions that will drive more to enquire into their horrible position, and how they have arrived at it. Newspaper reports show a considerable increase in bankruptcies this year. Returns show them to be higher than for a long time.
“At the time of writing (13/11/48) the Wellington waterfront is experiencing the longest and toughest slack period for some years. In fact there is no lack of indications that ‘things’ are getting back to ‘normal.’
“Should they he returned to power in the 1949 elections, it is possible that the Labour politicians will attempt to make good their boast and give us a practical demonstration of how to make a slump look like normal conditions or better still their own much-lauded ‘Full Employment.’ However, we guess that it would be just another case of Labour M.P. proposes. Capitalism disposes.”
“Manchester Comrade” whose activities as a pamphlet salesman in the Manchester area we reported in our December, 1948, issue, tells us, with disappointment, that circumstances have temporarily prevented him from continuing the work. He had to stop when he was just a few short of a total of 2,500 pamphlets sold. He will resume again shortly and he earnestly asks that London branches will try his methods, particularly in view of the forthcoming election campaigns.
W. WATERS.