SPGB Meetings and Educational Classes (1953)

Party News from the November 1953 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party News Briefs (1951)

Party News from the November 1951 issue of the Socialist Standard

The resumed Delegate Meeting was held at Holborn Hall on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, October 6th and 7th, when all outstanding items were dealt with. Delegates at one time numbered 34. representing 19 branches. Collections taken at the Delegate Meetings and Party meeting amounted to £30.

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A Party Meeting to discuss Electoral Activity was held on Sunday afternoon, October 7th, at Holborn Hall. Some 250 members were present, many taking part in discussion. It was agreed to endorse the arrangements already in hand to concentrate propaganda in Paddington North and East Ham South during the Election.

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At the time of going to Press an intensive propaganda drive is being held, particularly in Paddington and East Ham. There are 50,000 Election Manifestoes to be distributed and nearly twice our monthly quota of Socialist Standards are to be sold. Members have plenty of work on hand—and are getting on with it.

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A very successful indoor meeting was held at Southend-on-Sea on Monday evening, October 15th; a London speaker addressed the meeting. The hall was filled to capacity.

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Manchester Branch have had a successful summer outdoor season and are making plans to hold a series of indoor meetings during the winter.

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Indoor meetings throughout the winter are being held by Bloomsbury, Dartford, Hackney and S.W. London Branches apart from the Sunday evening meetings at Head Office. For details of all these meetings see notices on another page of this issue.

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Head Office Sunday evening meetings are well under way and members and sympathisers are cordially invited.

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Will all readers in Nottingham please note that a Discussion Group meets at the People’s Hall, Heathcote Street, Nottingham, at 7.45 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays in each month (i.e., November 7th and 21st). Members and sympathisers are welcome.

Quite a number of propaganda meetings have been held during the summer at Nottingham and there seems no doubt that these have greatly contributed to the formation of this Group as considerable interest in the Party case has been aroused in this area.

Fortnightly outdoor meetings are to be held at Slab Square, Nottingham, on Saturday evenings at 7.30 and Sundays 11.30 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Phyllis Howard

Blogger's Note:

Some background information is required with regards to the aforementioned Special Party Meeting on Electoral Activity which was held on October 7th at Holborn Hall. 

The October 1951 issue of the Socialist Standard carried a short notice that a Party Poll had been held on the subject of the Party and Electoral Activity, and there was a majority vote against putting up SPGB candidates at the forthcoming 1951 General Election. The Special Party Meeting took place during the weekend of the Party's Autumn Delegate Meeting, and the subject of the meeting was what activity the Party could do around the forthcoming Election. It was decided that Party members in and around London would concentrate their propaganda efforts in Paddington in West London and East Ham in East London, which were two areas where the Party had put up candidates at the recent 1950 General Election. Two hundred and fifty members attending the Special Meeting was impressive, and should real intent.

The following links give some more background on the Party and the 1950 and 1951 General Elections:

• Nov 1949: From The Eastern Front
• Feb 1950: How will you use your vote?
• Mar 1950: Our Two Election Campaigns 
• Apr 1950: Party News Briefs (See paragraph headed "The Parliamentary Committee")
• May 1950: To the Electors of East Ham
• Oct 1951: Why We Are Not Contesting This Election

SPGB Meetings and Educational Visits (1936)

Party News from the November 1936 issue of the Socialist Standard 

Blogger's Notes:

• 'L. Otway' was the husband of May Otway. Both Otways joined Walthamstow Branch of the SPGB in October 1924. Whilst May Otway resigned her membership of the Party in April 1940, L. Otway was lapsed from Party membership in May 1942.
• Thirty years before debating the SPGB in Glasgow in November 1936, Guy Aldred was in correspondence with the SPGB about possibly joining the Party. He never did. Twenty-six years after that debate at the Clarion Scouts' Hall against John Higgins of the SPGB, Aldred stood against a SPGB candidate at the November 1962 Glasgow Woodside bye-election. What's interesting about the debate with Aldred is that there is no mention of the fact that in 1936 he would have been a leading member of the United Socialist Movement. I wonder if he spoke as their representative in the debate, or was he just speaking in an individual capacity?
• 'Robertus' was Robert Reynolds.
• 'G. Clifford' was Clifford Groves.
• 'H. Russell' was Henry Russell. He joined the Southwark Branch of the SPGB in September 1933 and he was a member of the Party until his membership was lapsed in November 1952.

SPGB Meetings (1953)

Party News from the October 1953 issue of the Socialist Standard

Blogger's Note:

During his first spell in the SPGB, Robert Barlrop's pen-name/party name was 'R. Coster'. 

'R. Coster' was speaking on the Kinsey Report at Head Office on the 25th October, 1953. The front page article in this month's Standard was by 'Coster'/Barltrop on the Kinsey Report.

Donations (1934)

Party News from the October 1934 issue of the Socialist Standard

New Premises Fund (1936)

Party News from the October 1936 issue of the Socialist Standard

Again we have to remind readers that we need money urgently for our New Premises Fund. When the present renewal runs out, in about six months, we shall be faced with the need to secure other and larger headquarters. Our freedom of choice will be strictly limited by the amount of money we have in hand to enable us to meet removal and furnishing costs, and to pay the higher rent until our extended activities make it possible to pay the higher rent out of current income.

Send your donations to the Treasurer, 42, Great Dover Street, S. E. 1.

A list of donations is printed below: -

Obituary: Dick Banks (1986)

Obituary from the December 1986 issue of the Socialist Standard

Comrade Dick Banks died on 28 August. He and Doris joined the Southend Branch in 1935.

It happens that I am the one locally, who knew Dick in those early years and in particular I recall his regular attendance at the Branch meetings during the War and subsequently his involvement in Branch activities after the War, when opportunities opened for indoor meetings and propaganda on a larger scale, which led to the increased size of Southend Branch and later formation of Basildon Branch.

In later years Dick became disabled after a time of ill health, but was pleased to support and assist propaganda meetings, but in the autumn of 1985 developed a condition which was to end his life this year.

Members in Southend District extend their sympathy to Doris and family for their sad loss.

Harold Cottis

Blogger's Note:

Dick and Doris Banks were both former members of the Labour League of Youth. They both joined the SPGB in the autumn of 1935.

SPGB Meetings (1982)

Party News from the October 1982 issue of the Socialist Standard

Blogger's Notes:

A number of the meetings listed are actually available as audio files on the SPGB website. Click on the links:

Debate: Did Lenin distort?

‘Yes’ – Steve Coleman, SPGB

‘No’ – Monty Johnstone, CPGB & ‘Marxism Today’

Venue: Islington Central Library, London

Date: 11th November 1982

Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

A series of talks by Steve Coleman and held by Islington Branch between 3rd October 1982 and 26th December 1982.

The venue was the Prince Albert pub in Islington.

Plekhanov and the Materialist Conception of History 

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 3rd October 1982

Dietzgen and Dialectical Thought

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 17th October 1982

Kautsky and the Critique of Religion

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 31st October 1982

Bronterre O'Brien and Working-Class Radicalism

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 21st November 1982

Belfort Bax and the Ethics of Socialism

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 28th November 1982

William Morris' Vision of Socialism

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 12th December 1982 (Part 2)

Martov and the Anti-Bolshevik Approach to Revolution

Part of the series Socialist Thinkers – People Who History Made

Date: 26th December 1982

S.P.G.B. Lecture List For August. (1914)

Party News from the August 1914 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party Funds (1937)

Party News from the August 1937 issue of the Socialist Standard

S.P.G.B. Lecture List For June. (1912)

Party News from the June 1912 issue of the Socialist Standard

S.P.G.B. Lecture List For June. (1914)

Party News from the June 1914 issue of the Socialist Standard

Editorial: How will you use your vote? (1950)

Editorial from the February 1950 issue of the Socialist Standard

At the General Election in 1945 the S.P.G.B. had a candidate at North Paddington, and contested the same constituency again in November, 1946, when the Labour Member elected in 1945 resigned on grounds of ill-health. This time we are again contesting North Paddington and also putting up a candidate at East Ham South. Southend Branch is carrying on electoral activity and if sufficient support is forthcoming the candidate will be nominated. Our candidates, according to present information, will be opposed by Labour, Tory, Liberal and Communist candidates. All four parties will be calling on the workers not to vote for the only candidates who represent the Socialist challenge to capitalism. It is right that all four parties should do this and we welcome the opportunity of putting the election in its proper setting. It is our task and ours alone to press home the truth that for the working-class here and in all countries there can be no escape from the poverty, insecurity, hatreds and wars of the world as it is except through the abolition of capitalism and establishment of Socialism.

It is a hard lesson and one the working class are slow to grasp. The bitterness with which the other parties conduct the struggle for power lends colour to the belief that there are fundamental working-class interests at stake in the choice between them. In truth none of the four will touch the fundamental issue of Capitalism—Tory, Liberal, Labour or Communist administration will all leave the working class in the wage-slave position from which only Socialism can emancipate them. Whatever the detailed way in which the capitalist system is administered there will still be luxury and privilege for the rich, poverty and arduous toil for the working class. This is a basic feature and one that is common to all the superficially different forms of Capitalism, whether it be private enterprise America, Labour administered Britain or Russia under Communist dictatorship. A Minister in the Labour Government, Mr. Glenvil Hall, M.P., Financial Secretary to the Treasury, admitted in the House of Commons on 18th May, 1949, that: —

"Of the 550.000 people who die each year only 10 per cent. own more than £2,000 but these ten per cent. between them own 90 per cent, of the total property."

Inequality is inseparable from Capitalism, and while all the non-Socialist political parties profess to deplore “extreme inequality,” all of them, including the Communists, advance specious arguments in defence of inequality itself. They are all concerned to defend and perpetuate the system that gives wealth and privilege to a minority.

During the election campaign, the S.P.G.B. will put in its election literature and from its platforms the same Socialist message that our propagandists address to the working class at all times. There will be no vote-catching programme and appeals specially designed for election purposes.

The inauguration of Socialism demands the understanding of the working class. Votes and support given for anything less than Socialism would be only a source of weakness and confusion. We will do all we can to ensure that the Socialist candidates receive only the votes of those who understand and want Socialism; no other votes are sought.

What of the result? The number of votes given for Socialism will serve as a measure of the growth of Socialist understanding. Knowing how far the great majority of the working class are from accepting the Socialist case we know that the Socialist vote must be small. We are not discouraged by that. We have on our side forces that constantly add recruits to the army of Socialism as the other parties repeatedly betray their mental bankruptcy in their vain attempts to bring order, well-being and peace out of the chaos that is Capitalism.

Obituary: Alan Partner (1995)

Obituary from the September 1995 issue of the Socialist Standard

Alan joined the old Southend Branch in the early days after the War. He was a very regular attender of branch meetings, serving for a while as Branch Secretary and supporting sea-front meetings.

The political climate at the time lent itself to door-to-door selling of the Socialist Standard and Alan joined with other local members in canvassing with enthusiasm. A man of few words but, nevertheless, a good propagandist over many years.

Alan died on 12 April and he remained until then in contact with us and we shall miss him.

Harold Cottis

SPGB Outdoor Meetings (1952)

Party News from the August 1952 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party News (1967)

Party News from the July 1967 issue of the Socialist Standard

Please Note

Mid Herts Branch will not meet during August. First meeting in September will be on Monday September 4 at 8 p.m. at the Bed well Community Centre.

Camden (Bloomsbury) Branch will not meet during August, Meetings re-commence at Conway Hall on Thursday September 7 at 6 p.m.

Southend Branch will deliver the Socialist Standard to your home. Write to H. G. Cottis, 19 Kingswood Chase, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Camden (Hampstead Group)

We have pleasure in announcing the formation of the Camden (Hampstead Group) of the SPGB. The Group will hold its first meeting on Monday 4th September, 8.30 p.m. at The Enterprise, Chalk Farm Road, N.W.I, (opposite Chalk Farm Underground Stn.). It is intended to meet alternate Mondays after this date. A series of lectures, discussions etc. is being arranged and details will appear in the August S.S. In the meantime, if you are interested in the activities of the Group and wish to go on our mailing list, contact Secretary: Tel. 01-4853182. The Group will also be pleased to consider speakers from other organisations to address them.

Our Thanks 

We wish to thank the Victoria Labour College of Melbourne, Australia, for their donation to our library of two short pamphlets by Rosa Luxemburg—Socialism and the Churches and What is Economics? In addition their journal, The Labor College Review, frequently reprints article from this journal.

Donations to Party Funds. (1931)

 Party News from the July 1931 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party News and Notices. (1913)

Party News from the April 1913 issue of the Socialist Standard

Party News Briefs (1949)

Party News from the July 1949 issue of the Socialist Standard

Debate with Conservative at Southend. Southend Branch reports a very successful public debate held in the British Legion Hall at Rayleigh, near Southend, on May 19th. The Conservative Party was represented by Mr. Bernard Braine, its prospective candidate for S.E. Essex, and our representative was Comrade D’Arcy. The hall, which held about 200, could not accommodate all who desired to attend. Restrictions on the sale of literature caused the Southend members some disappointment, particularly as a large proportion of the audience was apparently Tory.

The subject of the debate, chosen by the Conservatives, was Capitalism or Socialism, but if Mr. Braine had anything to do with the choice, he did not appear to have selected wisely. He maintained that he was as concerned as the S.P.G.B. with present-day social problems. Instead of defending Capitalism, he used much of his time asserting that “Socialists in general" could not agree as to what Socialism was and that they used time and energy arguing amongst themselves. None of them, not even the S.P.G.B., could explain how it would work. Capitalism, he claimed, had been a great success in that it had been the means of a constantly rising standard of living. The social problems of today are not the peculiar product of Capitalism, but existed long before Capitalism. Society, he declared, was not class divided.

The Southend Standard reported Mr. Braine as saying:

“There is no such thing as the working class, as distinct from the rest of the population. All this talk about the working class is designed to appeal to an inferiority complex. The work shy and the inefficient—he is the man who will come out on top in the Socialist system of dis-incentives.”

J. D'Arcy warned Mr. Braine that it was the case of the S.P.G.B that he should deal with. The record of the S.P.G.B. in its hostility to the so-called Socialist parties, like the Labour Party, was sounder than that of the Conservatives. Com. D'Arcy drove home a telling attack against Capitalism which apparently confused Mr. Braine, because in his reply he admitted that he found himself in difficulty. He extricated himself from his difficulty by covering his obvious inability to defend Capitalism with confused references to “all Socialists" and the failures of “Socialist governments” as he insisted on calling them.

The debate achieved a good measure of publicity, including a good write-up in the local press. Southend branch is making every effort to arrange further debates. Outdoor meetings are held on Southend Sea-Front on Sunday evenings from 6.30 p.m.

Hackney Branch Dance and Social at Shacklewell Lane Schools on May 14th was a great success. Everyone present appeared to be having a really good time and we learn from branch members that the proceeds made a welcome addition to branch funds. We must certainly commend Hackney Branch members for the manner in which the affair was organised.

The Publicity Committee reports that there are still a few copies of “Collected Socialist Pamphlets” available for Public Libraries. On occasions in 1946 and in 1949 the committee has tried to get a quarter- page advert for our pamphlet, “Nationalisation or Socialism'' inserted in the Railway Service Journal (Railway Clerks’ Association Journal). It was anticipated that Nationalisation would be of immediate interest to railway workers. On each occasion a copy of the pamphlet was sent for perusal, but the reply was, that no advertising space was available. The committee offered to wait several months if necessary. Later a request was made for the insertion of an advert for our pamphlet “Russia since 1917" of a size down to two inches. A copy of the pamphlet was sent. The editor then says that he cannot accept our advertisement. That makes us doubt the “no space" excuse.

Belfast Meetings. The first public meeting held by the newly-formed Socialist Party of Ireland was on the day of the founding of the Party, May 29th. The meeting was a success beyond all expectations. Four speakers mounted the platform in High Street, Belfast, two from Dublin and two from the local branch. One Belfast comrade tells us that, “ I have spoken at many meetings here and elsewhere, but I was never so pleased; we had not a single hitch—even the amplifier (we had to use a loud speaker) was perfect. At its peak we had 250 people present until a long shower drove many away as the last speaker was finishing.” The meeting was re-commenced later and another audience of about 300 gathered to listen to questions and answers. Literature sales and the collection taken up were satisfactory. The meeting lasted from 3.30 p.m. to 6.40 p.m. A statement dealing with the forming of the party, its opposition to ail other parties and the Irish “border question” was duplicated and given away. These “went like wildfire.”

The Dublin members recently attended a meeting addressed by a Franciscan preacher on “Communism and how it affects the workers.” He was addressing a meeting of the Irish Bakers, Confectioners and Allied Trades Union. A comrade writes:

“Talk about taking crutches from a legless man if you had seen that guy left without Russia to lean on, it would have done your heart good.”

From a report in the Irish Independent (1/6/49) we conclude that our Dublin comrades embarrassed the reverend lecturer by exploding a lot of his notions and showing that communism and the antics of Communist Parties have nothing in common.

The Socialist Comment and Review, organ of our companion party in Australia, which temporarily suspended publication, is now being re-published. There are quantities available at Head Office which can be supplied in bundles of six different issues for sixpence, plus postage.

What Marx Really Meant (1983)

Party News from the March 1983 issue of the Socialist Standard