Sidney Box

SECTION 2. Chapter 8.

RESULTS OF " THE WORKERS' UNION " WORK.

 

We now come to, the stage where the work of the above Union, with the support of other Unions, particularly the railway workers of the county, started to make all serious-minded people to think more seriously how to grapple with the great problems facing the agricultural industry.

This was clearly demonstrated during the first world war, when it was realised that the basis of security for the country was not guns but the supply of food for the nation. Politicians of all parties were awakened to the fact that the land had been grossly mismanaged and neglected, notwithstanding the warnings issued by the old Land League, the National Agricultural Workers' Union and the Workers' Uinon; but ignored by the masses, landowners and farmers.

It is true to say that after the united meeting of farmers and workers in the Shirehall, Hereford—a finer and better conception of ideas concerning the industry gradually came into being. It was realised that two things were of the utmost importance—the organisation of farmer and worker, and the necessity of co-operation, together with representatives in Parliament to enforce interest and assistance. The facts are strange as it may appear to-day: the interests of the agricultural workers were the first to obtain benefit from direct legal enactments —namely, the passing of the Corn Production Act in 1917. In the same Act the farmers were given a guaranteed minimum price for corn, restriction of rent raising, etc. The Baldwin Government repealed the clauses in that Act by withdrawing legal enforcement of the Wage Boards agreements. This was replaced by a new Bill by the Labour Government in 1924, giving legal rights to the Wages Board orders, later to be followed by the Agricultural Bill. These Acts laid the foundation of a prosperous industry, giving benefits to all including landowners, farmers, workers and housewives by the subsidising of produce from the land after the disastrous period for agriculture between the two world wars. These are the facts.

 

We in Herefordshire claim to be the leaders in the cause for the resurrection of the nation's interest in agricultural workers. This was achieved by the determined efforts and self-sacrifice of the men in 1912 and onward, the majority of whom are now passed on. They left behind a legacy which the workers now enjoy—better housing, higher wages, holidays with pay, better education and more independence. The right to equality when serving on local councils and committees, the payment for travelling, subsistence and loss of time when so engaged; these are but a few of the benefits fought for by the Trade Unions and Labour efforts for many years.

 

It is true that even now there are many who are ill provided for, and much has still to be done by people of good   will.    There   must   be   a   system   established   when equalisation of distribution as far as is humanly possible for all annual production, thus replacing the terrible misery and evils of the extremes of wealth and poverty existing in the past. 

It is very satisfying to see efforts now being made by thinking and far-sighted men and women to build up an entirely new society of people, and  extending  this to the colonies, where in some places terrible poverty and degradation still exists owing to the greed of a small section of the nation who neither fear God nor have any regard for the welfare of their neighbour.   Where love, truth and honesty are of secondary importance—Where love thy neighbour as thyself is changed to when it suits me, and a God-given conscience violated by desires for wealth, honours and power. All this is bound to be followed by filthy living, idleness and gambling,  with its consequent evils.  

Again, many  of the churches failed in their duty by not attacking this evil tendency.  I hope some of these leaders will arouse themselves to their sense of responsibility in these matters and like Christ, condemn the professors of his day.  What an opportunity presents itself to the Christian Church leaders to-day —only to teach and lead the people to put into practice the Sermon on the Mount.

 

It may be that some of my readers, having no sound foundation for any political outlook, and being absorbed in  the  interest  of  self,  will   be  inclined  to   criticise  for bringing in a Scriptural authority as a basis for all the legal enactments, not appreciating that good government means government for the greatest good for the greatest number in the land.  This has not been so in the past, as the greater number live as a result of their own efforts and the smaller number live in luxury and wealth, either because of savings or because of acquirement of land by questionable methods by their forbears. 

It is admitted that a few have by perseverance and hard work accumulated more than others, some meet with so many misfortunes that they are unable to avoid being poor always, but here again we stick to facts—many remain poor because of their indulgence in their so-called pleasures that only  bring  poverty, loss of character and crime.

 

This part of the story, although true, will be resented by a small number of people. It is not advisable to pass hasty judgment upon these because it would strike at the very roots of our freedom.   The Creator gave all freedom and a will of their own to decide for ourselves in personal matters what kind of life we want to live, and at the same time pointing out the penalties for bad living, and rewards for those who try to live up to their responsibilities.   It is painful to realise the immense amount of harm being done by politicians, professing religious people and false leaders, in contrast to the work of such as General Booth, of the Salvation Army, and in our own county of Herefordshire, Bishop Percival and Canon Bannister. 

There were the missionaries like Livingstone and others who braved the perils of strange lands to carry the teachings of Christ, but these, alas, were followed by unscrupulous men seeking easy wealth at the point of a gun, and the introduction of alcoholic liquors to the ignorant natives. The result of this exploitation was the awful troubles in all the colonies possessing precious stones and gold.

Africa had diamonds and gold, Kenya had tin and rubber, Malaya had rubber.   The land was taken and the natives penned in reserves or enslaved to work to enrich the white man. The terrible atrocities of the Belgians in the Congo, the enslavement of the natives by the French and Dutch in their colonies, all under the hypocritical supposition to educate the natives.

A terrible retribution may await our children in the future unless the nations concerned create and pursue humane and just policies toward them, recognising that they, like us, are human beings, and are entitled to the same rights enjoyed here, not forgetting that the rights and responsibilities should also be put into practice in Britain, so that when visiting this country they may find a happy people as a contrast to the squalor in their own.

This can only be achieved when slums are abolished, a system of good provided, homes for the aged, greater care of the children, the operation of the Health Services and improvement of it, adequate pensions for the aged widows and all suffering from injury or dying for their country in war, or engaged in industry.

Last, but not least, that all workers should receive the full fruits of their labour, whether industrial, professional, educational or administrational; this is Socialism as I understand it.

 

To be fair and just to our social, political and administrational bodies, a great advance has been made during the past twenty years, particularly so since we have had the Welfare State in this country. In the past much of our poetry, literature and teaching in the schools boasted of the wealth, power and glories of the British Empire, when the true state of things was that millions in this country were lingering in terrible slums in the towns and dilapidated hovels in the country districts.

The sad fact is that some of this slum property was owned by the Church and their deacons, sidesmen, etc., who devotedly attended their services, worshipping God with their lips, whilst their actions were supporting evil. But it is very gratifying to live to see the great changes taking place in the minds and actions of a large number of the people, and the vast improvement in our present conditions compared with the past, which I hope is now dead, never to be resurrected.

This remarkable change has been brought about chiefly by the Trade Unions, composed of men and women who made immense sacrifices for the benefit of the future generations. This is the key that unlocked the door of semi-slavery in the past, and must eventually open up the way to full freedom, a full life and fair shares for all of God's gifts. But this can only exist when all selfish thinking, apathy and intolerance cease.

 

We now come to what has been the results of applying Socialism to a small degree in our legislation programmes and policy; Education, by implementing the Education Acts, great progress beneficial to the children, as to some extent equality of opportunity, has been put partially into operation. There still remains the snobbery and privileges of the private schools, where well-paid jobs are often given to those who have had the advantages of this further education; not because of possessing more brain power than the poorer child but because the wealthier children are in schools where the teachers can give more individual attention to them owing to the smaller number in the classes.

 

Agriculture, as referred to previously, was always neglected in the past, except for freeing the land from rates, which resulted in inflated values of land and higher rents, these being pocketed by the land owners; as stated by the Farmers' Union several years ago, the loss of this revenue to the State being paid by the ordinary  ratepayers.

The Government, during the first world war, realised the importance of producing more food, and farmers prospered during that period, but the workers were compelled to fight for even a small share of that prosperity through the trade unions, assisted by the Socialists in the House of Commons. As soon as the war was over, a slump set in, dragging down both farmer and worker. When the second world war broke out the farming industry was still without any planned policy, but due to the urgent need for food, farmers and workers were again called upon to do their bit, and whilst the farmers once again made fortunes the worker was still forced to struggle for a living wage.
After the war, the country, tired of neglect of the industry by successive Governments, returned a Socialist Government to power, and notwithstanding the false statements of the  opposition,  who were continually inferring that the town workers did not care two hoots about the agriculturalists, one of the first things they did was to put the industry on a sound foundation, taking special care of those engaged in the work—both farmer and worker—by placing Mr. Tom Williams as Minister of Agriculture, now acknowledged by every reasonable person to have been the best Minister in that position the country ever had.   Not only did this prosperity prove of immense value to trade in the towns, but to small shopkeepers in the country villages, whose sole income depended on the farmers' profits and the workers' wages, at the same time helping the housewife by subsidising the growing of food, and introducing for the first time the principle of fair shares to all, instead of, those with the longest purse obtains the most.

 

Here is a comparison, showing the cost to the housewife in 1951 and 1954:—

 

	Jan.  1951				Jan.  1951
	£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.
10 Loaves		4	7			6	3
18 Pints Milk		7	6			10	6
12 Eggs		3	6			3	6
12 lbs. Potatoes		1	9			2	6
2 lbs. Flour			6			1	1 ½
½ lb. Butter		2	0			2	6
1 lb. Margarine			10			1	11
Sugar		1	0 ½			1	9 ½
Cheese: 4 rations			7			1	7 ½
Bacon: 4 rations		2	7			4	0
Cooking Fat: 4 rations			6				10
Meat: 4 rations		4	0			8	8
½ lb. Coffee		1	10			2	9
½ lb. Tea		1	8			2	5
Total £	1	12	10 ½		2	10	4 ½

Increase of 17/6 for 4 persons during 1952-53. This was for food alone.

 

In the year 1953 when the Steel trade was under State ownership as opposed to private ownership, British Steel showed the greatest output for any year—17 ½ million tons.

Comparative prices were: Belgium £29, France £42 7s., Western Germany £37, United States £28 16s., Britain £25 12s. 6d. Yet the present Tory Government is selling the great industry back to private owners.

 

The years between the two great wars saw the neglect of social and public services as well as the agricultural industry—Building of Hospitals, Homes for the Aged, Children's Homes,  Convalescent  Homes,  and  Schools—whilst Municipal authorities refused to act, in many instances, to give assistance in the relief of unemployment.  

This caused starvation and misery to millions in this country alone.  It was not only the working class who suffered, but tradesmen, shopkeepers, holiday resorts—in fact all who were essential to a nation's well-being, suffered the same fate. Cuts in expenditure were the order of the day on all social services, the  cry  going  up:   " No  money."  What  nonsense!   

The Government in control would rather spend millions accumulated in the National Insurance Fund, paid by the weekly contributions of employers and employees, in unemployment benefit rather than lend assistance in starting works so sadly needed, and so ensure full employment at a wage commensurate with the job each one was engaged on. What intense folly! 

Tribunals were set up to actually prevent people from receiving the benefits they had paid for by their weekly contributions when in work.   This was most degrading to the applicants.  I was a member of some of these tribunals and I failed to see the sense in asking men: " Where have you been looking for work," when they had been registering at the Labour Exchange for weeks and months. Many of the Chairmen and members of these tribunals were too comfortably off themselves to understand the explanations of the persons coming before them. I often rebuked them for putting such idiotic questions.

A local Member of Parliament stated in a speech he made at Aberystwyth that unemployment was a necessity; he did not say for whom, but being an employer of labour himself, leaves one in no doubt.

 

The wealth of this country is so great and the necessary work needed to be done both here and in the colonies is so much that if only the finances of the country were used for the benefit of the whole of the people instead of the few what a happier country Britain would be. It would be in a position to place a pattern before the world and give a lead to the nations.

 

The Health Services originated by the recommendations contained in Sir William Beveridge's report of a committee's findings. This was the International Departmental Committee on Social Insurance and Allied Service, appointed by Mr. Arthur Greenwood, M.P., Treasurer of the Labour Party, and was made effective by a Bill for the National Health Service,  Mr.  Aneurin  Bevan, Minister of Health  in the Labour Government.

Everyone must agree that this measure was one of the finest ever passed by this country or any other, as it conferred benefits on all citizens irrespective of rank, creed, or colour.  It was especially helpful to those people who  could  not  afford  specialised  treatment  in  hospitals without hanging a millstone of debt around their necks for life. 

Thousands of mothers had lost their lives in the past because of this, and thousands of children did not get proper medical attention when needed for the same reason. Parents were afraid and were often not in a position to incur doctors' bills; but in fairness to the doctors, as a class they were extremely sympathetic and tolerant, in many cases accepting only  small  payment  and  in  thousands   of  instances  not receiving payment at all. This was a heavy burden for them to carry, because of the abominably low wages at that time.

The present generation are set free from these handicaps to a happy life, and the medical profession is assured of payment for its skill and labours.

May we ask here—Is there any Act of Parliament giving such service that can compare with this? It is no wonder that Mr. Bevan had the largest number of votes  at the  Labour Party Conference  for  a seat on Labour's National Executive Council.  Such great works can only or will be done by men and women possessing a socialistic outlook upon life and a keen desire to bring into operation a system where fear of the future and poverty shall be abolished throughout the world.

What has been done by other political parties to fulfil their promises after both World Wars and at the General Election?  Are the men who fought for freedom receiving the rewards they were promised? Are the parents and widows of those lads being justly treated when they are forced to strike to obtain bare justice?   Are the peoples in the colonies getting fair play after assisting us in both wars?  Do the coloured people we saw marching along our streets in the war, get the respect that is due to them for assisting us?  Is it just for one man to own ten or twenty thousand acres of land in a country, when other citizens own nothing?  Is it just for any one person to have hundreds of thousands of pounds, created by the workers in annual production, whilst the workers themselves have a struggle to keep their wives and children in comparative comfort? Is it just to build ten and twenty-room houses, with all the modern conveniences, together with large lawns, for one or two persons, when working families have to live in prefabricated bungalows, or converted army huts? Is it just, or in accordance with Christian principles, for one man preaching the Gospel and being paid £15,000, with a staff of servants, while others only receive £300 to £500 perannum to keep their family and a large old Vicarage (much of which is never used) in some state of respectability.

 

These are some questions, that, in the name of justice, have to be answered. As all men and women are equal at birth, should not equal opportunities follow them through life? Does money or property raise any person above his fellows? Is it not a fact that such an attitude creates snobbery, false pride and class distinctions, which are senseless and degrading.

 

Socialism does not bring about deterioration of a people, as some critics assert, it should have the reverse effect by building up their character into something fine and just, which is a first essential change to take place in a people before they can go forward as one grand human family, depending on each other and for each other, whether Prime Minister or labourer, as both are equal in the sight of God.

There should be a recognition of responsibility in all spheres of life. Can anyone say that such a system would be unjust or anti-Christian? 

May I end by stating that such a society would not tolerate idleness, which leads to crime, for Satan finds mischief for idle hands to do.  Neither would it give way to false pride, which is an abomination to God and all sensible people.  It would make an end to the selfish spirit we see so much of to-day and replace it with love and respect for all, a tolerance for other people's points of view,  a helping hand where needed, a recognition of our own failings, a friendliness to all and an earnest desire to help rather than hinder in all things.

These things can only come about when we will it by united effort, ridding ourselves of apathy and leaving the other people to do the work.  This attitude has always played into the hands of the reactionaries who live only for the present.  Socialism gives faith in the future to those who are willing to work for it.

 

Dedicated to all working with this end in view.
S. BOX.

 

 

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