from John Leonard. Call for More Nationalization At the T&GW biennial conference in Blackpool Frank Cousins called for full public ownership of natural gas resources, the ports and road haulage firms. He emphasized that the union regarded the decasualization of dock labour as only the first step towards full public ownership of the ports, which would bring security and higher pay to the union's members. But he stressed that security must be for all port employees, and nationalization could not be partial. They could not, for example, accept plans under which public port authorities need not necessarily take over tugs and lighterage. Frank Cousins dwelt on the promises which had been given that there would be no dismissals through redundancy in the docks, and sympathized with members who had been alarmed by the McKinsey report forecast that containers would eventually make 90% of dock labour surplus. Even if this were an exaggeration, he said, port employers were talking of a level of surplus labour in the next few years which would make the problems of railway and coal mining redundancy insignificant by comparison. He was particularly critical of the Transport Holding Company which behaves as a sleeping partner although it already has a half share in»this country's bus undertakings. The general manager of one bus company which ia half publicly owned, the Midland Red, has stated his intention to take a leading part in organizing opposition to the Government's nationalization plans, “How much of our money", Mr. Cousins asked, "is he using to campaign against the policy we put up?" ‘The Times' Supports Docks' Nationalization In an editorial in The Times on July 7th nationalization of the docks was supported in view of the likelghood of a massive cut in the labour employed during the next few years. What better way could there be of showing the working man the benefits of nationalization is The Times cynical attitude. In order to prevent this kind of manipulation dock workers must insist that nationalization be accompanied by full workers' control and not be fobbed off with the right to preside over their own funerals. "If nationalization can be implemented efficiently it seems at least an even bet that on the whole the nation will gain through stronger planning and control.......... Nationalization is something the militants in the docks have béen demanding for years, but they may find it a disenchanting experience. There is clearly going to be a substantial reduction in the number of dock workers as the container revolution gathers impetus, probably at about the end of the decade. This suggests that one of the first tasks of the new authorities may be to preside over this disagreeable operation. And nothing could be further than this from the working man's views of the benefits of nationalization."
Industrial Notes continued from previous page.
Another ‘Impartial’ Labour Inguiry into Shipping.
Leslie Cannon, right-wing president of the Electrical Trades Union, is
among five new members named by Douglas Jay, President of the Board of
Trade, to serve with Lord Rochdale on the Committee of Inquiry into
Shipping, The others are R.G,Soothill, chairman of Turner and Newall,
A.Siddall, of Joseph Lucas (Electrical), R.G,Leach, of Peat, Marwick,
Mitchell, and Professor A.D.Campbell, of St. Andrews University.
Cannon should find himself at home in such big business company.
Labour's choices follow the Steel Corporation selections quite predict-
ably. The trade union 'representative' being a bureaucrat from a com-
pletely differant sphere to the one in which he is to work.
Miners' Night Work Strike Spreads.
A miners' strike against night work spread to a third colliery in
Staffordshire this week, Plans were announced to involve collieries
in Nottinghamshire, Over 1,100 men were on strike at Lea Hall, West
Cannock No.5, and Cannock Wood, Jim Donnachie, strike committee chair-
man said: "The three remaining pits on Cannock Chase are expected to
join in the strike during the week, We are prepared if necessary for a
long battle,"
The strikers oppose their union which has agreed with the National Coal
Board on round-the-clock shift work at selected pits to increase produc-
tion, The men say night work would ruin their social life and hasten
the closure of the pits, The National Coal Board has stated that it
"recognised only the NUM as the representative body in these matters."
Government Go Back on Pay Order.
The Government has been forced to revoke the Prices and Incomes Order
against a pay demand by workers at Harland and Wolff in Belfast. It is
understood that Ministers have felt unable to invoke the Order because of
a the High Court decisions two weeks ago in cases brought by the militant
ASSET union against Thorn Electrical Industries and against Metropolitan
Receivers, In both cases the decision went in favour of the union, and
the circumstances in the Harland and Wolff case, together with an Order
concerning Birmingham Corporation are so similar that the Government sees
no alternative but to allow the wage settlements.
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