The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

November 195b CINE TECHNICIAN 169 LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE REPORT \ MONG the many thousands of ^* visitors who crowded into Blackpool over the weekend 29th-30th September five thousand were delegates to the Conference. The illuminations attracted the holiday makers, but they were as much interested in the comings and goings of the various delegates and personalities moving from hotel to hotel, everyone trying to foresee the ballot for Treasurer, Bevan or Brown. Not till Tuesday did Conference know. From the moment that the result was declared an excited expectancy spread over delegates, almost as if a General Election had returned a Labour Government. 402 Resolutions There were 402 resolutions on the Agenda, plus four policy documents to be discussed. Conference Standing Orders Committee proposed 32 composite resolutions which had direct bearing on the policy documents. These were : Colonial Policy, Housing, Social Justice, The Individual and Society. The A.C.T.T. resolution " This Conference draws attention to the lamentable failure of the British Government to help effectively British film production and instructs the National Executive Committee, in conjunction with the Parliamentary Labour Party, to give all possible support to the joint proposals of the six trade unions operating in the industry." was left on the Agenda, but was not reached and has been referred with many others to the Executive Committee of the Labour Party. Most of the National Press, B.B.C. and I.T. News have already covered the highlights of the main debates, so your delegate gives a personal impression of the Conference. Blond Transfusion On Tuesday morning of Conference confidence in the determination of the rank and file to break through the eld school and bring the Party back to Socialism became apparent. A blood-transfusion took place and the inertia that had settled on the Labour Party was broken, suddenly and dramatically. The political situation is transformed, a new Socialist thrust has been initiated. if Labour wins the next election the power will be used to secure an enlargement of human freedom, a change in relationship with the peoples of Africa and Asia and at home a big extension of public ownership. Plenty of work remains to be done, Blackpool must not be under-rated. The rank and file have elected an Executive pledged to a forthright policy. The question " Why do we send delegates to these conferences?" is often asked. I was sent because our General Secretary was taken ill. Various organisations approached A.C.T.T. to talk over problems; I was agreeably surprised to meet people who were really interested in British film production, including Members of Parliament, asking what our policy was and whether they could help. Arrangements were made for TECHNICOLOR SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB invite you to their NEW YEAR DANCE At the SEYMOUR HALL SATURDAY, 5th JANUARY, 1957 7.30 p.m. to 1 1.30 p.m. Come and dance to ERIC WINSTONE AND HIS ORCHESTRA and the GEOFF TAYLOR ROCK 'NT ROLL GROUP Bar and B uffet TICKETS 6/ each For further details and Tickets, contact MIKE BYRNE, Cha rman, Technicolor Sports and Social Club certain M.P.'s to meet our Legislation Committee. I am sure that this interest shown in the activities of A.C.T.T. is, in particular, due to the amount of work that George Elvin has put in on our behalf over the years. This, I think, was proved by the many enquiries about him and in particular the President of E.T.U. and the General Secretary of A.S.S.E.T., both of whom are on Hospital Boards, offered to place at George's disposal the best medical attention that was available. The experience I gained was valuable. Our Union is held in high esteem by national leaders, and those of our members who pay the political levy are assured of national representation, and many who ought to be paying it should start at once and those who do not should think seriously about doing so and support those national leaders who are willing to take British Film Production seriously. H. T. MIDDLETON. Shorts and Documentary Section Steve Cox writes: Following up on my report in the last issue regarding Technical Activities for the Section, as suggested at the Half-Annual General Meeting, the Committee has gone ahead with the matter, and the first of these will be held at Crown Theatre on Thursday, 29th November. These meetings will be held bimonthly, for a start, so please watch for the next date, we do want to make these a success. Members may remember that earlier this year, C.O.I. Films Officer, Jimmy Davidson, was working in Malaya. He is now on leave in London, and over a " noggin " in the " Highlander ". he mentioned several people whom he had met out there. I am sure, to many of you, these names are familiar — Dick Tambling, Ralph Keene, Brian Salt, Jack Lee, Jack Hanbury, Frank Bundy (who is working for TV), Tom Hodge and (Continued on page 170)