The Cine Technician (1938-1939)

July-August, 1939 THE CINE T E C H N 1 C 1 A N CI AFFILIATION TO LABOUR PARTY AT its Annual General Meeting on April 16th, 1939, The Association of Cine-Technicians decided to take a ballot of the membership as to whether affiliation should be made to the Labour Party. This ballot will be taken shortly. A lid",, vote in favour is necessary for affiliate >ii to be made. For the benefit of those readers not present at the Annual General Meeting, we ] resent the points made for and against the motion. Jt must be remembered that although the Association would affiliate as such, no individual member would be committed politically by affiliation. Every member is free to pay the political levy or not, as he wishes. SIDNEY COLE argues "YES" The Labour Party is the political expression of the Trade Unions. The early Trade Unions found that industrial victories needed political safeguards in the House of Commons, if the gains were to be maintained. That need still exists. And only the Labour Party supplies it. Everything that we strive for in our Union is included in the programme of the Labour Party — Holidays with Pay, Fair Wages, Shorter Hours. Compensation. Recogniton of Unionism. Our interests as Trade Unionists are the Party's declared object. This is not true of either the Conservative or Liberal parties. in practice, whenever our Association has wanted matters raised on its behalf in the House of Commons, it has turned naturally to Labour members, and help has always been generously given. It's up to us to support the Party that has supported us. Livelihood and happiness for us who live and work in Great Britain depend on the maintenance of world peace. "Appeasement" is a self-confessed failure. The Government has now been forced by public opinion into a belated admission that peace depends on the policy urged by the Labour Party, that is, a firm Peace Front of our country, France, and the Soviet Union, against aggressor powers. Belief in this policy was voted almost unanimously at A.C.T's. Annual Meeting. The Labour Party can be trusted to carry through such a policy when in power. The Labour Party wants planned control of the national economy. Lack of planning and unrestricted speculation in the film industry have led to extravagant waste and heavy unemployment, as we know only too well. Why? Because our industry, like all others, is based Only on the scramble for private profit. The Labour Party wants to get rid of this principle and put in its place Service to the Community. The most important thing is to ensure that we all have a job and enough to eat. To the Labour Party our industry, like all others, is first of all a problem of human lives and happiness, not of balance sheets and profits. The Labour Party, in brief, stands for all the things we have been advocating and fighting for in our Association. For us, as men and women who earn our living by our skill of hand and brain, who want peace, n job, acknowledgment of our skill, a home, education for our children, and justice for our fellows, the Labour Party is OUR PARTY VOTE FOR AFFILIATION J. NEILL-BROWN argues " NO " A.C.T. has frequently sought the assistance of Members of Parliament and in the main the M.P's. have been of the Labour Party. This Oppositions has the general backing of and is the advocate in the Commons lor the Trade Unions. As we are a Trade Union and have had the full support of Labour M.P's.. it therefore seems natural to conclude that A.C.T. should affiliate to the Labour Party. Which is not quite the logical conclusion it appears to be. We must remember that it suits the books of any opposition to embarrass the ruling party with questions in the House, and that in consequence the Labour M.P's. have only done what Conservatives would do if the party position were reversed. One of the best speeches in support of tile British Him technicians during the Films Bill debates was by a Conservative member, who also helped this union in raising a certain matter privately with the Minister of Labour, from whom we got a reply just as effective as when the same question was raised publicly in the House by a Socialist. I wish to lay emphasis on the non-political character of our union and the non-political basis on which it has been built up. Jt is not and should not be regarded as a free platform for the spreading of any propaganda for any party whatsoever, and those who wish to "'talk politics" should use the appropriate channels. I regard it as an impertinence that anyone should use the organisation of this union to influence the vote of even one single member, since it was not set up for that purpose. As our A.C.T. constitution stands at the moment, there is ample room for all opinions; the non-political character of the Union has served the needs of its mixed membership excellently. It would be a great pity to introduce an element which might well prove to be a disrupting force. What can the Labour Party give you other than seeming to flatter the vanity of a few people who already swear allegiance to it individually? As trade unionists we are aiming at the same goal as all other trade unionists. It is our duty to support and encourage our fellow workers in every way possible and we do that through the T.TJ.C. The Labour Party does not necessarily have the support of all wage-earners. We stand today stronger than ever in our history. Bigger and better things will happen yet. but only our constant unity will help us to attain the best possible. Surely the higher wisdom is to preserve the excellent unity we have rather than alienate the political sympathies of people who may interpret this action as a subtle lever to assist a party whose general policy is not theirs. Do not be misled by the screaming of the "Left." Maintain your own independence and VOTE AGAINST AFFILIATION