Branch News
Seven Days for Socialism Week in Belfast opened on Sunday, September 22nd with an open air meeting in Blitz Square, Belfast and an indoor meeting in the Bakers Hall. Then there was the Wednesday night “Any Questions” at party Head Office; on Saturday a social where local members gathered to meet comrades from Glasgow, London and Dublin. On Sunday, 29th September there was an open air meeting at Customs House Square (one of the best meetings held by the Party for many years, a good collection and Literature sales and visiting speakers at their best). A further indoor meeting was held in the Bakers Hall and special drive for the SOCIALIST STANDARD resulted in 244 sales plus 30 Party pamphlets and over 1,000 back numbers of the SOCIALIST STANDARD, Western Socialists were distributed free and 2,000 leaflets. A very good week of activity and Belfast Branch is agreed that a similar week should be held at least once a year. The week showed the unity of the international Socialist movement with members coming to help from Glasgow, London, Armagh and Dublin. The meeting at the Customs House was the first ever held by the Party at this spot and the result was so good that the Branch is now holding regular meetings there.
Many propaganda activities are arranged for the end of October in London, and Glasgow, and outdoor and indoor meetings are planned by other Branches, including debates, and discussions. It will be too late to report them as we go to press, but it is heartening that so much continual activity is taking place in the Party. Glasgow and Bromley (group) and Lewisham in particular are canvassing and holding meetings in preparation for .likely election campaigns. All these activities cost money and it is hoped that readers will not hesitate to send their contributions to E. Lake, the Treasurer at Head Office.
As last year, our team of literature sellers went to the Labour Party Conference at Scarborough, held meetings on the way, and sold 137 SOCIALIST STANDARDS and 90 pamphlets, realising £6 13s.
Several times this year the SOCIALIST STANDARD has been sold out by the end of the month—a good indication that our hope of a 10,000 monthly circulation are within the realms of possibility.
P H.