The May local elections have once again shown the determination of the people to be rid of the Tories. Results have show that Labour could expect a large majority in Parliament if the General Election was held now. Yet in Ilkeston once again the local election results have gone against the Labour Party and the national trend, At the election in May,1963, the Liberals gained a seat in the South Ward. Again this year they have achieved another success, To many it seems contradictory that a constituency with a parliamentary majo= rity of over 20,000 should lose seats at a time like this. To realise why this happens the make-up of the Ilkeston Local Party must be examined.
For many years there has been a great deal of apathy in the party. The people who hold the executive positions are quite content to plod along in the same old way. Nearly 18 months ago a resolution from the Y.S. branch was passed which called for a membership drive. A membership committee was set up, but it did meet until October of last year, almost 12 months after the GMC had approved the original resolution. It is now May, the membership sub-committee has not met again. This is just one example of the apathy in the party. The same apathy is even more apparent in the Labour Group. With a majority of nearly two to one, there seems to be more interest in who becomes Chairman of what committee than the proposal of socialist measures to solve the problems of the people.
The Liberals have seen their opportunity and are cashing in on it. After last year's success they have proceeded to build up their successful candidate into something of a genius in the eyes of the people, with the result that a very mediocre candidate defeated a Labour Councillor at the polls this month, There are, however, some comrades who are prepared to fight to save the party, they are spearheaded by the Y.S. and a local branch of the 1T.G.W.U. Already there are two resolutions on the table demanding the secretary's resignation. If this can be achieved the Ilkeston Local Labour Party will be well on the way to recovery. * Dick Gregory is secretary of the Ilkeston Young Socialists SOCIALIST REGISTER ESSENTIAL READING from James Wilcox
The Socialist Register for 1964, edited by Ralph Miliband and John Saville contains some crucially important articles that every socialist should read. Two complementary contributions analyse the new features of the capitalist system. H. Alavipresents a model of new imperialism and provides detailed information on India as a case study. EH. Mandel contributes a lucid explication of the "Economics of Neo-colonialism". A. Halek, an Egyptian Marxist characterises the nature of Nasserism; I, Deutscher writes on the origins of Maosims; and the editors analyse the present position of the left in the Labour Party. Those who followed the recent workers! control school in Nottingham will find M. Basquet's article where he outlines the strategy of the Italian trade unions of great interest. Likewise with Jim Mortimers' article on the "Structure of British Trade Unions."
one We NUMBER 20 PAGE 3 ANTI-APARTHEID NOTES NOTTINGHAM USDAW TACKLES LORD SAINSBURY Disturbed at the volume of §
outh African produce on displ i sehr see roma see sede Central Nottingham USDAW wrote to" fad
’ prominent Labour Peer, asking for explanati read in part as follows: "Pergonall . i oa ee
2 y I am in complete oppositi to A i but" (our emphasis) "as a retail organi i KA berprek <.,
ganisation we cannot as such participat in the boycotting of South African goods or in the withdrawal if ten fe sale. Our customers wishing to exercise their own individual conscience in the matter may do so by not purchasing South African produce. In all but very few instances there are alternative or similar : roducts fr i available," P om other countries
by Bob Gregory
This reply is at first sight reasonable. Sainsbury dec j ition to Apartheid. But then so does Sir Alec Pecalaee tae ae ee oe action that separates socialists from do-gooders. Why cannot a retail organisation participate in a boycott? If a City Council can black South African goods then how much easier is it for a private company? If the shopper can exercise her own individual conscience then why cannot the retail organisation? For Sainsbury is just as much a shopper, though more so, than the housewife. He has the power to evolve a principled buying policy towards the wholesalers and importers, who distribute South African goods, and to the South African exporterse He has the power to exercise his individual conscience, Why doesn't he?