Skip to main content

Full text of "Fabian tract"

See other formats


ANNUAL 


FABIAN     SOCIETY 

77th  Annual  Report 

1st  JULY   1959  TO  30th  JUNE   I960 


INTRODUCTION 

DESPITE  the  disappointing  result  of  the  General  Election,  the  Society 
had  a  relatively  successful  year.     Membership  increased,  reversing  last 
year's  trend,  and  sales  of  pamphlets  were  higher  than  they  have  been 
tor  many  years  past. 

The  role  of  the  Fabian  Society  in  the  aftermath  of  the  third  consecu- 
tive defeat  of  the  Labour  Party  at  a  General  Election  is  clearly  different 
from  its  function  when  a  Labour  Government  may  be  imminent.  The 
pamphlets  published  after  the  General  Election,  in  the  year  covered  by  this 
Report,  have  reflected  that  change  of  role.  The  new  series  '  Socialism  in 
the  Sixties  '  has  dealt  with  the  long-term  future  of  the  Labour  Party,  the 
changing  pattern  of  national  and  international  society  that  it  will  encounter, 
and  the  analysis  of  what  is  objectionable  in  contemporary  society.  The 
series,  which  has  included  such  Fabian  best-sellers  as  Casualties  of  the 
Welfare  State,  The  Irresponsible  Society,  and  Labour  in  the  Affluent 
Society,  has  attracted  a  great  deal  of  publicity,  including  discussions  on  the 
radio  and  television,  a  full  centre-page  article  in  The  Observer,  and  many 
leading  articles  in  national  newspapers. 

Side  by  side  with  this,  the  Society  has  continued  to  produce  research 
pamphlets,  outlining  practical  problems  and  proposing  practical  solutions. 
The  advocacy  of  particular  reforms,  with  the  aim  of  influencing  the 
Government,  has  long  been  a  function  of  the  Society,  and  is  not  less 
essential  in  these  Opposition  years. 

A  Young  Fabian  Group  was  established  during  the  year  to  run  func- 
tions for  younger  members,  and  to  produce  three  pamphlets  of  its  own 
each  year.  A  discussion  group  on  public  ownership  was  also  started,  with 
good  support  from  Fabians,  and  one  or  two  other  groups  were  planned. 
To  match  this  new  activity  with  the  necessary  funds,  a  £5.000  appeal 
was  launched,  to  which  members  responded  generously.  By  the  end  of  the 
year,  the  halfway  mark  had  been  reached.  Increases  in  costs  have  made 
the  problem  of  balancing  the  Society's  income  with  its  expenditure  a  con- 
tinuing problem,  and  the  maintenance  and  further  extension  of  activities 
will  depend  upon  a  substantial  and  permanent  improvement  in  the  Society's 
income. 

In  carrying  on  the  work  it  has  undertaken,  work  which  is  essential  if 
the  philosophy  and  standpoint  of  social  democracy  are  to  be  upheld,  the 
Society  owes  a  great  deal  to  those  who  write  for  it,  speak  for  it  and  work 
for  it  without  any  reward  other  than  the  knowledge  that,  without  them. 
it  could  not  continue. 


FABIAN    SOCIETY 


MEMBERSHIP 

Despite  the  decline  in  support  for  the  Labour  Party  which  was 
manifested  at  the  General  Election,  individual  membership  of  the  Society 
improved.  The  increase  was  registered  in  the  more  expensive  50s.  and  60s. 
categories  ;  membership  at  lower  rates  continued  to  decline.  There  was 
also  a  welcome  improvement  in  the  number  of  Labour  Parties,  Co-operative 
Societies  and  Trade  Unions  subscribing. 

The  proportion  of  young  people  joining  was  well  maintained,  and  a 
number  of  new  members  expressed  interest  in  belonging  to  the  Young 
Fabians  Group. 

Membership  of  local  societies  showed  a  further  decline.  Several 
societies  ceased  activities  during  the  Election  and  did  not  start  again.  How- 
ever, reorganisation  and  re-formation  has  led  to  a  number  of  new  societies 
being  established. 


Membership  Figures  at  30th  June 

1959 


1960       Change 


NATIONAL   INDIVIDUAL    MEMBERS 

Full  Members  ... 
Associates 


New  Members 
Resignations,  etc. 


SUBSCRIBING   BODIES 


Labour  Parties,  Co-ops.,  Trade   Unions 
Libraries,   etc 


2530 
102 

2586 
91 

+  56 
-11 

+  45 

20s. 
105 
108 

30s.  50s. 
30    33 

75    23 

60s. 
159 

85 

Total 
336 
291 

-3 

-36  +10 

+  74 

+  45 

Unions 

1959 

152 

88 

7960 

173 

79 

Change 

+  21 

-9 

BUREAUX   MEMBERS 

Commonwealth  Bureau 
International    Bureau 


254 
53 


220 
56 


-34 

+  3 


77th  annual  report  5 

GENERAL 

EXECUTIVE    COMMITTEE 

Members  Elected:  John  Diamond  (Honorary  Treasurer,  unopposed) 
and  (in  order  of  ballot)  A.  Wedgwood  Benn,  Brian  Abel-Smith,  Roy 
Jenkins,  Ritchie  Calder,  Eirene  White,  Peter  Townsend,  C.  A.  R.  Crosland, 
Margaret  Cole,  Arthur  Skeffington,  H.  D.  Hughes,  John  Parker,  Denis 
Healey,  Austen  Albu,  Mary  Stewart,  Shirley  Williams,  Peggy  Jay,  Lord 
Faringdon. 

Members  Co-opted:  R.  H.  S.  Crossman,  Robert  Neild,  Reginald 
Prentice,  Michael  Shanks,  Peter  Shore,  George  Thomson.  Stephen  Hatch, 
Chairman  of  the  Young  Fabians  Group,  was  co-opted  in  April  to  fill 
the  place  vacated  by  the  resignation  of  Shirley  Williams. 

COMMITTEES 

Members  of  the  Committees  appointed  by  the  Executive  Committee 
are  listed  in  Appendix  'A'. 

DELEGATES 

Labour  Party  Conference:  W.  T.  Rodgers. 

London  Labour  Party  Conference:    Arthur  Skeffington,  M.P. 

London  Labour  Party  Executive  Committee:   Arthur  Skeffington,  M.P. 

OFFICERS 

H.  D.  Hughes  was  elected  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee,  Lord 
Faringdon  Vice-Chairman,  and  John  Parker  Honorary  Secretary.  John 
Diamond,  M.P.,  had  already  been  returned  as  Honorary  Treasurer  in  the 
Annual  Ballot. 

STAFF 

There  were  eleven  full-time  and  three  part-time  members  of  the  staff. 
In  April,  W.  T.  RODGERS  resigned  as  General  Secretary  after  nearly  eight 
years  with  the  Society,  both  in  that  capacity  and  previously  as  Assistant 
Secretary.  His  vigour  and  enthusiasm  did  much  to  maintain  the  Society's 
work  and  influence  through  a  difficult  period.  SHIRLEY  WILLIAMS,  his 
successor,  is  already  well  known  to  members  through  her  writings  and  as 
a  member  of  the  Executive.  R.  L.  LEONARD,  the  Assistant  Secretary, 
is  also  leaving  the  Society's  employment  after  five  years'  excellent  service. 

CATHERINE  HOSKYNS  left  after  a  year  as  Assistant  Secretary  of 
the  Commonwealth  Bureau,  and  was  succeeded  by  MARGARET 
ROBERTS. 

ROSEMARY  SPIRA  and  THEA  VIGNE  also  left  the  Society  during 
the  year;  they  were  replaced  by  BEATRICE  FEDER  and  LEONORA 
KAYE. 

The  Executive  Committee  wishes  to  thank  these  and  other  members 
of  the  Staff  for  their  devoted  service  to  the  Society. 


4  FABIAN   SOCIETY 

VOLUNTARY  ASSISTANCE 

The  Executive  Committee  would  like  to  thank  those  members  who 
gave  valuable  and  much-appreciated  voluntary  help  during  the  year,  in 
particular  Mr.  Holman  for  regular  assistance  in  the  general  office,  and 
Renee  Ayer,  Muriel  Pease,  Mary  Winchester,  Mr.  Bradbury  and  Mrs. 
Scholefield  Allen  for  their  work  for  the  Commonwealth  Bureau.  The 
Local  Societies  Committee  would  like  to  thank  Gabriel  Newfield  and 
H.  J.  Boyden,  M.P.,  for  their  help. 

ANNUAL    GENERAL   MEETING 

The  Annual  General  Meeting  was  held  at  the  London  University 
Institute  of  Education  on  Saturday,  5th  December,  1959.  The  Annual 
Report  and  the  Statement  of  Accounts  were  accepted.  A  vote  of  thanks 
to  Messrs.  Pegg,  Robertson  and  Co.  for  their  services  as  Honorary  Auditors 
was  carried  unanimously,  and  they  were  asked  to  serve  for  1959-1960. 

An  amendment  to  Rule  2  of  the  Society's  Rules  was  proposed  by 
Anthony  Wedgwood  Benn  and  carried  by  the  necessary  majority  of  three- 
quarters  of  those  present  and  voting.  The  amendment  was  an  addition  to 
the  first  paragraph  of  Rule  2,  as  follows: 

'  It  also  aims  at  the  implementation  of  the  Charter  of  the  United 

Nations  and  the  Universal  Declaration   of  Human  Rights.     It  seeks 

the  creation  of  effective  international  institutions  to  uphold  and  enforce 

world  peace '. 

REGIONAL    MEETINGS 

A  Regional  Members'  meeting  to  discuss  the  work  of  the  Society  and 
to  hear  members'  comments  and  suggestions,  was  held  in  Leeds  in 
November.    The  Chairman  and  the  General  Secretary  attended. 

SUMMER    SCHOOLS,    1959 

Two  weeks  of  Summer  Schools  were  held,  as  well  as  a  fortnight's 
school  in  Germany.  The  first,  at  Wiston  House,  Steyning,  was  entitled 
'Democracy  in  Danger'.  Lecturers  were  R.  H.  S.  Crossman.  M.P., 
Desmond  Donnelly,  M.P.,  J.  Halcro  Ferguson,  Leon  Ma  Guerrero,  Paul 
Ignotus,  Colin  Jackson,  Dorothy  Pickles,  Peter  Wiles  and  David  Williams. 
James  Johnson  was  Director  and  Alison  Lough  was  Secretary. 

The  second  week  at  Collington  Rise,  Bexhill,  was  a  family  school, 
a  successful  new  departure.  The  subject  was  '  The  Changing  Face  of 
Britain '.  Lecturers  were  E.  R.  Braithwaite,  C.  A.  R.  Crosland,  David 
Davies,  Oleg  Kerensky,  W.  T.  Rodgers,  Gordon  Rose,  Raymond  Williams, 
Sir  W.  E.  Williams  and  Peter  Willmott.  George  Thomson,  M.P.,  was 
Director  and  Grace  Thomson  was  Secretary.  There  were  101  full-time 
students,  of  whom  22  were  children,  and  18  part-time. 

The  German  Summer  School  was  held  at  Bergneustadt,  near  Cologne. 
The  programme  of  lectures  and  visits  was  arranged  by  the  Friedrich-Ebert 
Institute.  The  Director  was  John  Parker.  M.P.,  and  Zena  Parker  was 
Secretary.     There  were  25  students. 


77th  annual  report  5 

WEEK-END    SCHOOLS 

Four  week-end  schools  were  held  with  a  total  attendance  of  250.  The 
New  Year  School  at  Beatrice  Webb  House,  Dorking,  was  entitled  '  Equality 
through  Social  Policy '.  The  Director  was  Peter  Townsend  and  the 
lecturers  were  Brian  Abel-Smith,  Karel  Reisz,  John  Vaizey  and  Barbara 
Wootton. 

The  Spring  School  on  '  The  Future  of  Socialism '  was  held  at  Alston 
Hall,  near  Preston.  H.  D.  Hughes  directed  and  the  lecturers  were  Anthony 
Wedgwood  Benn,  Prof.  W.  J.  M.  Mackenzie  and  H.  A.  Turner. 

The  Easter  School,  held  at  Beatrice  Webb  House,  was  entitled 
'  Socialism  and  Industry  '.  Reg  Prentice,  M.P.,  directed  and  lectures  were 
given  by  Lisl  Klein,  Robert  Neild,  Michael  Shanks  and  Peter  Shore. 

The  Under  Thirties  School,  arranged  by  the  Young  Fabians  Group, 
was  held  at  The  Hallams,  near  Guildford.  The  subject  was  '  Socialism  in 
Action  ',  and  the  Director  was  Stephen  Hatch.  Lectures  were  given  by 
Brian  Abel-Smith,  Ray  Gosling,  Stuart  Hampshire,  Alan  Lovell  and  Leo 
de  Syllas. 

AUTUMN    LECTURES 

The  1959  series  of  four  Autumn  Lectures,  held  in  the  immediate  after- 
math of  the  General  Election,  was  entitled  '  Socialism  in  the  Sixties  '.  The 
lecturers  were  Roy  Jenkins,  M.P.,  on  '  The  Future  of  the  Labour  Party  ', 
P.  M.S.  Biackett  on  '  The  Future  of  British  Defence  Policy  ',  R.  M.  Titmuss 
on  "The  Irresponsible  Society'  and  R.  H.  S.  Crossman,  M.P.,  on  'Labour 
in  the  Affluent  Society '.  The  series  was  held  in  conjunction  with  the 
Central  London  Fabian  Society,  and  the  average  attendance  was  over  250. 
Two  of  the  lectures  were  later  published  as  pamphlets. 

SPRING    LECTURES 

Following  the  abnormal  success  of  the  Autumn  lectures,  an  additional 
series  of  four  lectures  were  held  in  the  Spring,  entitled  '  Forward  to  1964  '. 
Anthony  Wedgwood  Benn,  M.P.,  lectured  on  '  Mass  Communications  and 
Political  Power ',  Kenneth  Younger  on  '  Britain's  Role  in  a  Changing 
World  ',  Sydney  Jacobson  on  '  What's  Wrong  with  the  Labour  Image?  ' 
and  C.  A.  R.  Crosland,  M.P.,  on  '  Can  Labour  Win?  '.  The  average  attend- 
ance was  125.     Two  of  the  lectures  were  published. 

Series  of  Spring  Lectures  were  also  held  at  Cardiff,  Gloucester,  Grimsby 
and  Leeds  in  conjunction  with  the  Local  Societies  there.  John  Diamond, 
M.P.,  Ritchie  Calder,  Shirley  Williams  and  Reg.  Prentice,  M.P.,  spoke  at 
Cardiff  and  Gloucester  and  C.  A.  R.  Crosland,  M.P.,  Arthur  Skeffington, 
M.P.,  James  MacColl,  M.P.,  and  Sidney  Silverman,  M.P.,  at  Grimsby  and 
Leeds.  The  average  attendance  was  60  at  Cardiff  and  Grimsby,  55  at 
Leeds  and  35  at  Gloucester. 

YOUNG    FABIANS    GROUP 

Following  informal  discussions  with  a  number  of  younger  members 
and  others,  a  Young  Fabians  Group,  open  to  Socialists  under  the  age  of 


6  FABIAN   SOCIETY 

thirty,  was  founded  in  May.  An  interim  committee  was  appointed  by  the 
Executive  Committee.  This  Committee,  which  has  appointed  its  own 
officers  and  has  drawn  up  a  constitution  for  the  Group,  will  serve  until 
November,  1960,  when  a  new  Committee  will  be  elected  by  the  members 
and  subscribers  of  the  Group.  The  Group  will  receive  financial  and  clerical 
help  from  the  Society,  but  will  be  responsible  for  its  own  policy  and 
activities,  subject  to  conditions  approved  by  the  Executive  Committee.  The 
aim  of  the  Group  is  to  give  younger  Socialists  an  opportunity  to  carry 
out  research,  discussion  and  propaganda  upon  contemporary  problems 
which  they  consider  important.  The  Group  was  responsible  for  the  1960 
Under  Thirties  School,  has  set  up  study  groups  on  a  variety  of  subjects, 
and  hopes  to  be  able  to  publish  three  pamphlets  a  year.  An  exchange  visit 
to  Eastern  Europe  is  planned  in  1961. 

BOOKSHOP 

While  sales  of  books  and  general  literature  remained  at  about  the 
previous  level,  demand  for  Fabian  pamphlets,  for  which  the  bookshop  acts 
as  the  main  point  of  sale  and  as  a  postal  order  department,  rose  remark- 
ably during  the  year.  Bookshop  revenue  on  the  Fabian  account  rose  by 
70  per  cent,  to  nearly  £1,300.  The  major  contribution  to  this  impressive 
increase  was  made  by  pamphlets  in  the  Socialism  in  the  Sixties  series, 
notably  Audrey  Harvey's  Casualties  of  the  Welfare  State,  Richard  Titmuss's 
Irresponsible  Society,  and  R.  H.  S.  Crossman's  Labour  in  the  Affluent 
Society. 

In  the  general  literature  section  of  the  Bookshop's  trade,  paper-backs 
continued  to  increase  their  share.  Such  titles  as  Saturday  Night  and  Sunday 
Morning  and  The  Hidden  Persuaders,  both  in  paper-back  editions,  attracted 
a  good  many  customers.  The  Bookshop  maintained  its  policy  of  stocking 
mainly  books  dealing  with  politics,  economics  and  social  questions,  but  a 
number  of  customers  used  it  as  a  means  of  ordering  books  of  all  kinds  by 
keeping  an  account.  The  range  of  periodicals  on  sale  was  very  wide, 
particularly  the  publications  of  various  Socialist  bodies,  including  Socialist 
Commentary,  The  New  Statesman,  Tribune,  The  New  Left  Review, 
pamphlets  of  the  Union  of  Democratic  Control,  etc. 

The  Bookshop  would,  of  course,  welcome  more  customers,  either  in 
person  or  by  post,  and  would  benefit  still  more  if  a  greater  number  of 
Fabians  used  it  whenever  possible. 

PUBLICATIONS 

Fourteen  pamphlets  were  published,  and  also  a  special  Tract  Where?, 
a  symposium  on  Labour's  policy  after  a  third  consecutive  defeat  at  a 
General  Election.  Over  25,000  copies  of  these  fifteen  publications  were 
sent  free  to  members.  Sales  of  pamphlets  during  the  year  amounted  to 
over  18,000.  Although  there  was  only  one  issue  of  Fabian  Journal  in  place 
of  the  three  of  the  year  before,  distribution  of  Fabian  material  was  well 
maintained,  a  total  of  91,781  copies  of  pamphlets  and  journals  being 
distributed,  including  Fabian  News  and  Venture. 


77th  annual  report  ' 

137  newspapers  and  journals  mentioned  Fabian  pamphlets  during  the 
year  one  or  more  times.  Three  full  page  spreads  on  Fabian  pamphlets 
appeared  in  Tribune,  and  one  each  in  the  New  Statesman,  the  Daily  Herald 
and  Labour  Woman.  Fourteen  leaders  were  about  Fabian  pamphlets,  and 
these  appeared  in  The  Guardian,  The  Times,  the  Daily  Telegraph  and 
several  provincial  newspapers.  Apart  from  the  national  newspapers,  all 
of  whom  reviewed  Fabian  pamphlets,  there  was  as  usual  a  great  deal  of 
comment  in  more  specialised  journals.  Among  these  were  the  Church 
Times,  the  Estates  Gazette,  the  Stock  Exchange  Gazette,  the  Industrial 
Welfare  Society's  journal,  Nature,  the  Railway  Review  and  the  Architects' 
Journal.  Fabian  pamphlets  received  more  publicity  than  for  several  years 
past,  and  seem  to  have  reached  a  new  public  hitherto  not  familiar  with 
them. 

Fabian  News  was  published  monthly,  carrying  news  of  schools,  meet- 
ings and  other  events,  book  reviews,  reports  of  activities  and  an  occasional 
article.  Only  one  issue  of  Fabian  Journal  appeared  during  the  year,  in 
July.  1959.  It  was  then  decided  that  Fabian  Journal  should  be  temporarily 
suspended,  and  the  money  saved  thereby  should  be  spent  on  controversial 
pamphlets.  The  last  issue  contained  articles  on  '  Why  I  Shall  Vote  Labour ' 
by  Angus  Wilson,  '  What  Sort  of  Radical  Party?  '  by  W.  T.  Rodgers. 
'  Public  Capital  and  Private  Enterprise  '  by  Douglas  Jay,  M.P.,  '  The  Trade 
Unions  and  European  Free  Trade '  by  Colin  Beever,  and  a  review  of 
New  Fabian  Colonial  Essays  by  Colin  Leys. 

The  suspension  of  the  Journal  enabled  the  Society  to  publish 
Where?  in  November,  1959.  Contributors  to  this  enlarged  and  handsome 
Tract  were  Anthony  Wedgwood  Benn,  Alan  Birch,  Douglas  Jay,  Robert 
Neild  and  Ralph  Samuel. 

During  the  year  the  following  were  published: 

Research  Series 

209.  The  Universities:  A  Royal  Commission?     Graeme  Moodie. 

210.  A   United  Nations  Police  Force?     David  Ennals. 

211.  Restraining  Urban  Growth.     J.  B.  Cullingworth. 

212.  Tanganyika  in   Transition.     Arthur  Skeffington. 

213.  The  Malayan   Experiment.     John  Lowe. 

214.  The  Future  of  Adult  Education.     Mabel  Tylecote. 

215.  Central  Africa:   The  Economics  of  Inequality.    Shirley  Williams. 

Tracts 

318.  Commercial   Television:     What   Is   To   Be   Done?     Christopher 

Mayhew. 

319.  Reform  of  the  Commons.     Bernard  Crick. 

320.  Where?     Five  views  on  Labour's  Future. 

321.  Casualties  of  the  Welfare  State.    Audrey  Harvey. 

322.  The  Race  against  the  H  Bomb.     Denis  Healey. 

323.  The  Irresponsible  Society.    Richard  Titmuss. 

324.  Can  Labour  Win?     Anthony  Crosland. 

325.  Labour  in  the  Affluent  Society.    R.  H.  S.  Crossman. 


g  FABIAN    SOCIETY 

Others 

Fabian  Journal.     One  issue. 
Fabian  News.     Eleven  issues. 
Venture.     Eleven  issues. 
16th  Annual  Report. 


HOME  RESEARCH  DEPARTMENT 

Chairman  :  H.  D.  Hughes  Secretary :  Shirley  Williams 

Six  pamphlets  were  published  as  a  direct  result  of  the  Department's 
work.  The  number  was  slightly  smaller  than  in  1958/59,  owing  to  the 
General  Election  and  its  aftermath,  and  the  decision  to  spend  rather  more 
of  the  Society's  resources  on  Fabian  Tracts. 

Of  the  two  pamphlets  on  education,  one  dealt  with  the  universities, 
the  first  on  this  subject  for  twelve  years.  In  The  Universities — A  Royal 
Commission?  Graeme  Moodie  described  the  growing  need  for  graduates 
and  the  difficulty  of  expanding  the  present  universities,  and  outlined  the 
subjects  a  Royal  Commission  should  inquire  into.  Mabel  Tylecote,  in 
the  Society's  only  recent  pamphlet  in  the  field,  The  Future  of  Adult  Educa- 
tion, showed  how  facilities  might  be  expanded  to  meet  the  demand  for 
education  from  those  with  little  formal  schooling,  for  instance,  housewives 
and  retired  people,  and  the  ways  in  which  mass  communication  might  be 
more  effectively  used. 

The  group  of  pamphlets  on  planning  policy  was  rounded  off  by  the 
publication  of  Restraining  Urban  Growth  by  J.  B.  Cullingworth,  an 
examination  of  the  problem  of  overspill.  At  the  end  of  the  year,  a  draft 
on  housing  needs  was  being  prepared. 

Commercial  Television — What  Is  To  Be  Done?  by  Christopher 
Mayhew,  showed  how  the  safeguards  of  the  Television  Act  have  been 
overcome  by  the  contractors.  Means  were  proposed  of  raising  the 
standards  of  commercial  television,  and  strengthening  public  service  tele- 
vision. 

A  pamphlet  that  attracted  a  good  deal  of  publicity  was  Bernard  Crick's 
Reform  of  the  Commons.  After  criticising  the  inefficiency  of  Parliament, 
he  recommended  much  more  clerical  assistance  for  M.P.s,  research  facilities, 
priority  to  be  given  to  the  Parliamentary  job,  and  the  establishment  of 
standing  specialised  committees  to  maintain  closer  supervision  of  public 
policy. 

Audrey  Harvey  wrote  the  second  pamphlet  in  the  highly  successful 
'  Socialism  in  the  Sixties '  series,  Casualties  of  the  Welfare  State.  This,  one 
of  the  Society's  best  sellers,  was  very  widely  reviewed,  and  Mrs.  Harvey 
was  interviewed  on  television. 


77th  annual  report  " 

At  the  end  of  the  year  a  draft  on  apprenticeship  was  ready  for  publica- 
tion. Other  drafts  on  monopolies  and  restrictive  practices,  the  after-care 
of  prisoners,  the  future  of  nationalisation,  status  in  industry,  transport 
policy,  Socialism  and  the  Arts,  the  education  of  teen-age  girls,  the  City  of 
London,  and  the  Trade  Unions,  were  in  course  of  preparation. 

A  small  private  group  met  regularly  to  discuss  the  nationalised  indus 
tries,  and  it  was  decided  to  go  ahead  with  work  on  a  book  on  this  subject, 
of  which  Michael  Shanks  was  appointed  editor. 

Two  informal  groups  were  set  up  to  help  the  Home  Research  Com- 
mittee in  finding  authors  and  met  from  time  to  time  throughout  the  year. 
One  dealt  with  social  services,  the  other  with  the  problems  of  industry 
and  the  economy.  Both  groups  have  submitted  proposals  for  long-term 
projects  to  the  Committee. 


10  FABIAN    SOCIETY 

COMMONWEALTH  BUREAU 

Chairman:   Arthur  Creech  Jones  Secretary:   Hilda  Selwyn-Clarke 

The  year  has  been  one  of  rapid  constitutional  advance  in  Africa, 
culminating  in  the  independence  of  the  British  Trust  Territory  of  Somali- 
land  on  June  28th,  and  its  union  with  Italian  Somalia  to  form  the  Somali 
Republic  on  June  30th.  Dates  have  been  set  for  the  independence  of 
Nigeria  and  Sierra  Leone  and  for  a  plebiscite  for  the  British  Cameroons. 
In  East  Africa  the  year  has  witnessed  important  constitutional  changes, 
reflecting  the  recognition  by  the  British  Government  of  the  irresistible 
'  wind  of  change '  engendered  by  African  demands  for  independence. 
Tanganyika  will  achieve  internal  self-government  in  September,  while 
the  Lancaster  House  Conference  on  Kenya's  future  represents  a  very 
important  advance.  Elsewhere,  the  trend  is  the  same ;  independence  for 
Cyprus  is  in  view,  full  internal  self-government  was  agreed  for  Trinidad 
and  progress  was  made  elsewhere,  including  in  Basutoland  and  the  Gambia. 
The  '  wind  of  change  '  and  its  recognition  by  the  British  Government  are 
warmly  welcomed  by  the  Bureau. 

Nevertheless,  the  problems  of  '  settler '  Africa,  particularly  Central 
Africa  and  Kenya,  continued  to  occupy  much  of  the  Bureau's  attention. 
In  July,  1959,  a  Bureau  Conference  on  Central  Africa  was  addressed 
by  Bernard  Chidzero,  Austen  Albu,  M.P.,  and  Dingle  Foot,  M.P.,  and 
its  discussions  and  conclusions  were  published  in  a  special  issue  of  Venture. 
3,000  copies  of  this  Report  were  circulated  by  the  Labour  Party  and  widely 
distributed  in  Central  Africa. 

Publications  :  Shirley  Williams'  pamphlet  Central  Africa:  the  Economics 
of  Inequality  was  published  in  June,  1960,  and  copies  were  sent  to  the 
Monckton  Commission  for  their  information.  The  pamphlet  evaluated  the 
benefits  which  have  accrued  to  the  three  territories  of  Central  Africa  as  a 
result  of  their  federation,  and  concluded  that  '  there  is  no  reason  to 
believe  that  Nyasaland  would  suffer,  on  balance,  if  the  Federation  came 
to  an  end.' 

A  pamphlet  by  Arthur  Skeffington,  M.P.,  Tanganyika  in  Transition, 
was  published  in  January.  It  presents  the  progress  of  a  territory  in  which 
the  problems  of  inter-racial  conflict  have  largely  been  overcome  and  where 
the  main  difficulties  stem  from  poverty  and  the  dearth  of  capital  resources. 

In  March  The  Malayan  Experiment  by  John  Lowe  was  published 
jointly  with  the  International  Bureau.  The  pamphlet  deals  with  the  urgent 
necessity  to  build  understanding  between  the  Malay  and  Chinese  popula- 
tions of  the  Federation  of  Malaya  and  Singapore. 

A  pamphlet  has  been  written  by  Terence  Ranger  on  Southern 
Rhodesia  which  we  hope  will  be  published  in  September. 

Eleven  issues  of  Venture  were  published,  including  a  special  issue  on 
Education  in  the  Commonwealth  in  April.     Articles  have  included: 

4  Two  years  of  Malayan  Independence  '  by  John  and  Christine  Dore ; 

'  Why  Congress  was  Banned  '  (Southern  Rhodesia)  by  Joshua  Nkomo  ; 


77th  annual  report  11 

'  The  All-African  Peoples  Conference  '  by  Catherine  Hoskyns ; 
'Analysis  of  Empire'  by  A.  Creech  Jones,  MP. ; 
'  Nyasaland :   an  Appeal  to  Britain  '  by  Orton  Chirwa  ; 
'New  Hope  in  Kenya'  by  Hilary  Marquand,  M.P. 

Research  :  The  basic  research  for  the  study  project  on  the  co-opera- 
tive system  in  the  colonies  was  completed  in  the  autumn  and  a  meeting  of 
the  Working  Party  governing  this  was  held  on  15th  October,  1959,  to 
determine  the  use  to  which  the  material  should  be  put.  It  was  agreed  that 
the  material  should  be  published  in  two  forms:  the  Co-operative  Party 
agreed  to  make  itself  responsible  for  one  or  more  popular  pamphlets,  and 
the  Committee  assigned  to  Mr.  Betts,  formerly  Assistant  Secretary  of  the 
Bureau,  the  task  of  preparation  of  a  book  on  the  subject.  The  manuscript 
of  this  book  had  reached  an  advanced  stage  by  the  end  of  the  year,  and 
it  is  intended  to  press  forward  with  publication  as  soon  as  possible. 

A  research  paper  on  the  land  question  in  Kenya  was  prepared  in 
May,  1960,  and  studied  by  members  of  the  Bureau  Committee  in  June. 
After  some  modification  by  a  small  sub-committee  which  has  been  set  up. 
it  is  proposed  to  circulate  this  shortly  to  key  members  in  East  Africa  and 
to  others  who  are  interested. 

Parliamentary  work  was  maintained  on  widely  different  subjects  and 
territories,  including  elections  in  Nairobi,  the  dismissal  of  Nyasaland  civil 
servants,  the  Bahamas,  the  Cameroons,  resettlement  schemes  in  Northern 
Rhodesia,  Kenya  land  problem,  labour  in  Bechuanaland,  the  Economic 
Commission  to  Mauritius,  constitutional  progress  in  Bechuanaland,  mal- 
nutrition in  Ndola  and  the  relative  costs  of  technical  education  in  the 
colonies  and  Britain.  The  Bureau  continued  also  to  brief  M.P.s  on  Com- 
monwealth and  colonial  subjects. 

Correspondence  was  maintained  with  overseas  members ;  and  members 
and  delegations  from  the  Cameroons,  Singapore,  Tanganyika,  Nyasaland. 
South  Africa,  Kenya,  Northern  and  Southern  Rhodesia,  Somaliland. 
Nigeria,  Mauritius,  British  Guiana,  South-West  Africa,  Antigua  and  the 
West  Indian  Federation  were  entertained  or  received  in  the  office. 

It  was  decided  in  the  course  of  the  year  to  organise  a  series  of  lectures 
and  discussions  for  Commonwealth  and  colonial  students  on  the  applica- 
tion of  socialism  in  economically  under-developed  countries.  As  more  and 
more  British  colonies  become  independent,  it  is  clear  that  the  emphasis 
of  the  Bureau  will  shift  from  the  problems  of  freedom  from  foreign  rule 
to  those  of  democracy,  welfare  and  stability  within  independent  states. 
Students  from  the  colonies  have  expressed  an  interest  in  discussing  the 
application  of  socialist  ideas  to  these  problems,  and  the  Bureau  intends  to 
initiate  a  series  of  such  discussions. 

The  Assistant  Secretary,  Miss  Catherine  Hoskyns,  left  the  Bureau  in 
the  last  week  of  June,  and  our  grateful  thanks  are  due  to  her  for  18 
months'  valuable  service. 

Miss  Margaret  Roberts  was  appointed  to  succeed  her  in  June. 

We  are  very  grateful  for  the  help  of  voluntary  assistants,  who  are 
mentioned  elsewhere. 


12  FABIAN    SOCIETY 

INTERNATIONAL  BUREAU 

Chairman:    Denis  Healey  Secretary:   R.  L.  Leonard 

There  was  a  slight  reduction  in  the  level  of  activities  and  publications 
of  the  Bureau  during  the  year,  mainly  due  to  the  incidence  of  the  General 
Election.     Three  pamphlets  were  published: 

A  United  Nations  Police  Force?  by  David  Ennals  assessed  the  role 
played  by  the  United  Nations  Emergency  Force  on  the  borders  of  Egypt 
and  Israel,  and  strongly  urged  the  establishment  of  a  permanent  force. 

The  Race  Against  the  H-Bomb  by  Denis  Healey  argued  that  the  new 
technology  of  warfare  had  ruled  out  the  hope  of  national  security  except 
through  the  international  control  of  armaments  and  that  the  most  urgent 
problem  facing  mankind  was  to  stop  the  spread  of  nuclear  weapons.  It 
asserted  that  the  time  would  come  for  Britain  to  make  a  decisive  contribu- 
tion towards  persuading  others  to  accept  the  international  control  of 
atomic  weapons  capacity  by  offering  to  surrender  her  own  nuclear  stock- 
pile. 

The  Malayan  Experiment  by  John  Lowe  (published  in  conjunction  with 
the  Commonwealth  Bureau)  traced  the  development  of  Malaya  towards 
independence  and  described  the  principal  problems  which  it  now  faces. 
It  emphasised  the  importance  of  achieving  racial  harmony  and  of  achiev- 
ing eventual  union  with  Singapore. 

At  the  end  of  the  year  the  Bureau  was  about  to  publish  Britain's  Role 
in  a  Changing  World  by  Kenneth  Younger,  and  a  pamphlet  on  the  Middle 
East  was  nearly  ready  to  go  to  press.  Other  subjects  on  which  work  was 
well  advanced  were  Japan,  Britain  and  Europe,  and  America  after  Eisen- 
hower. Pamphlets  on  China,  the  Indian  Economy,  French  Africa  and  the 
Freedom  of  the  Press  are  being  prepared,  and  a  pamphlet  on  Relations 
between  the  Soviet  Union  and  Satellites  has  been  promised.  A  series  of 
pamphlets  comparing  achievements  of  public  ownership  in  various  Euro- 
pean countries  was  also  planned,  and  a  number  of  other  studies  were 
proceeding.  As  in  previous  years,  the  principal  obstacle  to  increasing  the 
number  of  publications  was  the  difficulty  in  finding  suitably  qualified 
authors. 

A  public  meeting  on  Nuclear  Disarmament  was  held  in  February, 
1960.  The  speakers  were  Wayland  Young,  Humphry  Berkeley,  M.P.,  Denis 
Healey,  M.P.,  and  Charles  Taylor. 

Private  members'  meetings  continued  to  be  held  at  the  House  of 
Commons.  Stephen  Thomas  spoke  on  Problems  of  the  Reunion  of 
Germany,  General  Humberto  Delgado  on  Portugal  Today,  Dr.  Karlheinz 
Abshagen  on  Anglo-German  Relations  and  Professor  Michio  Nagai  on 
Modern  Politics  in  Japan. 

A  number  of  overseas  visitors  were  welcomed  during  the  year,  and  infor- 
mation and  advice  were  given  to  members  who  consulted  the  Bureau. 


77th  annual  report  13 

LOCAL  SOCIETIES 

Chairman:    Arthur  Skeffington  Secretary:   Dorothy  Fox 

The  financial  year  of  Local  Societies  runs  from  1st  April  to  31st  March. 
Comparative  membership  figures  (affiliation  fees  fully  paid)  for  the  last 
three  years  are: — 

1st  April,  1957— 31st  March,  1958     ...     2,579  (84  Societies) 
1st  April,  1958— 31st  March,  1959     ...     2,168  (86  Societies) 
1st  April,  1959— 31st  March,  1960     ...     1,926  (77  Societies) 
In  this  period  nine  Societies  ceased  to  hold  meetings: — Dover,  Holy- 
head, Huyton,   Kensington,   Maidstone,  Tunbridge   Wells,  Watford   (since 
re-formed),  Wimbledon  (merged  with  Maiden)  and  Worcester. 

Seven  Societies  were  recognised:  Epsom  (re-formed),  Bridgwater, 
North  Berks.,  Portsmouth,  Preston  (re-formed),  Watford  (re-formed)  and 
York  (re-formed). 

Meetings 

In  place  of  the  usual  Summer  Tea  Party,  a  Wine  and  Cheese  Party 
was  held  at  11,  Dartmouth  Street. 

The  conference  for  Local  Society  members,  which  is  held  every  year, 
took  place  in  March  at  Oxford,  with  Arthur  Skeffington  as  Director,  and 
Peggy  Crane,  Edmund  Dell  and  Percy  Clark  as  speakers. 

Regional  Lectures  were  held  in  Grimsby/Leeds  and  Cardiff/ Gloucester. 
The  speakers  included  Ritchie  Calder,  C.  A.  R.  Crosland,  M.P.,  John 
Diamond,  M.P.,  James  MacColl,  M.P.,  R.  C.  Prentice,  M.P.,  Sidney  Silver- 
man, M.P.,  Arthur  Skeffington,  M.P.,  and  Shirley  Williams. 

At  the  Local  Societies  meeting  on  the  morning  of  the  Society's  A.G.M., 
Shirley  Williams  introduced  a  discussion  on  future  plans,  in  the  light  of 
the  political  situation  following  the  General  Election  and  in  particular 
the  consequences  for  the  Labour  Party  of  local  problems  and  the  attitude 
and  behaviour  of  Labour  Groups  in  local  government. 

Regional  Committees 

Regional  Committees  continued  to  do  useful  work.  The  annual 
Scottish  week-end  school  was  attended  by  the  secretary  of  the  Local 
Societies  Committee.  John  Strachey  and  John  Diamond  were  the  speakers, 
and  George  Thomson  was  the  Director. 

In  other  regions  an  informal  organisation  has  been  established  in  the 
East  Midlands.  In  the  North-West  a  number  of  Local  Society  members 
attended  the  National  Society's  week-end  school  at  Alston  Hall.  The 
Secretary  of  the  Local  Societies  Committee  was  also  present.  A  Day 
School  on  nuclear  disarmament  was  held  in  the  Northern  Region.  The 
annual  meeting  of  the  South-West  Region  was  attended  by  W.  T.  Rodgers. 
Tn  Leeds,  a  meeting  for  Local  Society  members  preceded  one  for  National 
members. 


14  FABIAN   SOCIETY 

No  Local  Societies  Tea  Meeting  was  held  during  the  Labour  Party 
Conference,  as  this  was  confined  to  two  days. 

Research 

A  questionnaire  on  the  relations  between  Landlords  and  Tenants, 
prepared  by  Shirley  Williams  in  consultation  with  Gabriel  Newfield  and 
Peggy  Crane,  was  sent  out  to  25  Societies  and  to  a  number  of  individuals. 

Several  Societies  undertook  their  own  local  research  projects,  e.g. 
Aberdeen  on  Electioneering  Methods  in  Municipal  Affairs;  Norwich  pro- 
duced a  detailed  and  comprehensive  plan  fo  the  re-development  of  an 
area  in  that  city. 

Future  Developments 

We  hope  to  have  a  study  guide  on  the  principle  of  social  responsibility 
from  Dick  Taverne  by  next  autumn,  and  arrangements  are  being  made  for 
a  Local  Government  Conference  in  November.  Arrangements  are  also 
being  made  for  a  Local  Societies  meeting  at  the  Labour  Party  Annual 
Conference,  at  which  Anthony  Crosland,  M.P.,  and  R.  H.  S.  Crossman, 
M.P.,  have  agreed  to  speak. 

Conclusion 

The  Secretary  of  the  Local  Societies  tries  to  visit  regional  gatherings 
from  time  to  time,  but  there  is  a  great  deal  that  could  be  done  if  younger 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee  and  Local  Societies  Committee  could 
give  occasional  week-ends  in  which  two  or  three  lectures  could  be  arranged 
for  individual  societies — the  way  that  regional  series  are  arranged. 

Societies  during  the  past  few  years  have  owed  a  great  deal  to  the 
interest  shown  by  W.  T.  Rodgers. 

Most  of  those  associated  with  Local  Society  activities  believe  their 
work  was  never  more  important.  The  need  for  informed  discussion  within 
the  Movement,  both  with  members  of  the  Labour  Party  and  other  interests, 
was  never  more  necessary.  The  Fabian  tradition  of  attempting  solutions 
which  meet  the  facts  is  needed  more  than  ever.  Some  200  people  outside 
London  make  our  Local  Societies  possible,  and  we  are  grateful  to  them. 
As  a  result  of  their  work,  some  800  Fabian  meetings  were  held — a  little 
less  than  in  1958  because  of  the  Election.  Local  Societies  ensure  know- 
ledge and  discussion  of  Fabian  publications.  Moreover,  they  are  a  guaran- 
tee that  Fabianism  is  not  confined  to  London. 


77th  annual  report  15 

OBITUARY 

As  usual,  the  Fabian  habit  of  long-standing  membership  over  the 
years  has  taken  its  toll  with  the  deaths  of  many  of  the  Society's  oldest 
friends  and  supporters. 

PERCIVAL  CHUBB,  one  of  the  original  founder-members  of  1884, 
died  in  February  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  at  the  age  of  99.  As  a  young  local 
government  clerk  he  organised  the  Fellowship  of  the  New  Life,  out  of 
which  the  Fabian  Society  developed  ;  he  later  emigrated  to  America  and 
became  head  of  the  Ethical  Church  in  New  York.  LORD  AMMON  died 
in  April  after  more  than  fifty  years'  membership.  A  former  Post  Office 
worker  and  General  Secretary  of  the  Fawcett  Association,  which  was 
amalgamated  in  the  Union  of  Post  Office  Workers,  Charles  Ammon  was 
M.P.  for  North  Camberwell  from  1922-31  and  1935-44;  Parliamentary 
Secretary  to  the  Admiralty  in  1924  and  1929-31  ;  Chairman  of  the  L.C.C. 
1941-42;  and  Chairman  of  the  National  Dock  Labour  Corporation  1944-50. 
A  conscientious  objector  of  the  first  world  war,  GUY  KEELING  joined 
the  Society  in  1923  and  was  one-time  editor  of  The  Spur;  he  was  a  member 
of  the  early  Labour  Research  Department. 

Mrs.  C.  D.  CORBETT-FISHER  came  of  a  well-known  Liberal  family 
but  went  over  to  Labour  and  helped  to  found  the  early  local  parties  in 
Sussex;  she  also  served  as  a  magistrate.  LILIAN  ROBERTSON 
was  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Grafton  but  never  used  her  title;  she  was 
wife  of  the  life-long  Fabian  and  Chairman  of  the  L.C.C,  Charles  Robert- 
son, and  was  well  known  for  her  social  work.  Mrs.  H.  L.  RADLEY,  one 
of  the  earliest  surviving  members,  joined  the  Society  in  1902;  she  attended 
the  first  summer  school  in  1907,  and  was  present  at  the  75th  anniversary 
reception  in  February,  1959.  Also  a  veteran  of  the  early  summer  schools 
was  Mrs.  J.  D.  LYNCH.  Another  very  old  member  was  A.  E.  LAUDER, 
a  former  local  government  officer,  member  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
and  author  of  several  Fabian  tracts. 

Parliamentary  losses  were  sustained  with  the  deaths  of  JOHN 
EDWARDS,  M.P.  for  Brighouse  and  Spenborough,  and  a  former  Parlia- 
mentary Secretary  to  the  Ministry  of  Health  and  Board  of  Trade ;  and 
R.  W.  G.  MACKAY,  a  keen  world  Federalist,  who  had  been  M.P.  for 
Hull  and  Reading.  Mrs.  E.  H.  ADAMS  was  widow  of  the  Fabian  and 
M.P.  for  East  Newcastle,  David  Adams.  F.  J.  SAYER,  a  Liverpool  baker, 
had  been  an  active  Merseyside  Fabian  for  many  years.  Dr.  L.  F. 
BROWNE  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Tavistock  Institute  of  Human 
Relations,  a  former  Chairman  of  the  L.C.C.  Special  Schools  Committee 
and  an  alderman  of  St.  Pancras  Borough  Council.  The  Commonwealth 
Bureau  has  lost  the  valued  support  of  G.  A.  CHESHIRE,  R.  O.  MENNELL 
and  H.  A.  W.  MORRICE,  who  was  irrigation  adviser  to  the  Sudan  Govern- 
ment. 

We  have  also  to  record  with  regret  the  loss  of:  P.  H.  ARCHER,  P.  G. 
ECKFORD,  S  T.  FARNES,  Dr.  CECIL  GORDON,  S.  GRANTHAM, 
Dr.  A.  MORLEY  DAVIES,  A.  L.  MURRAY,  E.  SCALA  and  G. 
TAGGART. 


16  FABIAN   SOCIETY 


HONORARY  TREASURERS  REPORT 

We  did  not  incur  the  anticipated  large  deficit  in  the  year  to  June.  1960, 
for  the  best  possible  reason — several  of  the  pamphlets  we  published  were 
of  such  high  quality  that  they  sold  remarkably  well.  As  a  result,  the  profit 
from  the  Bookshop  rose  by  £600  as  compared  with  the  previous  year,  which 
was  itself  a  good  year.  The  final  deficit  of  £82  can  be  regarded  as  a 
manageable  figure. 

But  we  really  cannot  hope  to  repeat  these  exceptional  Bookshop  sales ; 
and  the  best  estimate  I  can  make  for  the  current  year  is  that,  without 
increasing  our  activities  or  our  expenditure,  the  Society's  deficit  will  be 
more  than  £500. 

Now  this  is  not  a  manageable  figure.  Even  after  taking  into  account 
the  results  of  the  Special  Appeal,  we  still  have  a  substantial  overdraft  and 
are,  therefore,  quite  unable  to  contemplate  deficits  of  that  order.  It  is 
inevitable  that  we  should  look  to  subscriptions  to  provide  additional  income, 
and  having  regard  to  the  unanimity  with  which  the  members  present  at  the 
Annual  General  Meeting  pressed  this  view  on  me  last  year,  I  have  little 
doubt  that  the  principle  of  increasing  subscription  rates  will  be  approved 
at  the  forthcoming  Annual  General  Meeting.  The  details  which  have  been 
fully  described  in  Fabian  News  may  well  stimulate  a  very  interesting  dis- 
cussion. 

It  is  to  be  hoped,  too,  that  those  who  are  kind  enough  to  support  us 
with  their  donations  may  equally  be  prepared  to  consider  increasing  the 
amount  of  their  help,  even  though  they  have  been  most  generous  to  us  over 
many  years.  I  should  like,  particularly,  to  thank  those  who  helped  us 
during  the  past  year,  including  the  Passfield  Trust,  the  Noel  Buxton  Trust 
and  the  following  trade  unions:  Transport  and  General  Workers,  General 
and  Municipal,  National  Union  of  Mineworkers  (through  its  areas). 
Union  of  Shop  Distributive  and  Allied  Workers.  Amalgamated  Engineer- 
ing Union.  Union  of  Post  Office  Workers,  National  Union  of  Public 
Employees.  Transport  Salaried  Staffs  Association,  National  Union  of  Print- 
ing, Bookbinding  and  Paper  Workers,  National  Federation  of  Building 
Trades  Operatives,  Confederation  of  Health  Service  Employees,  Amalga- 
mated Weavers  Association,  Sheet  Metal  Workers,  Boot  and  Shoe  Opera- 
tives, Musicians  Union,  Agricultural  Workers  and  United  Society  of 
Boilermakers,  Shipbuilders  and  Structural  Workers.  In  addition  help  from 
the  Labour  Party  and  Trade  Union  Congress  was  renewed. 

The  net  cost  of  our  various  activities  during  1959-60  was.  in  round 
figures.  £10,000,  and  the  following  table  shows  the  usual  breakdown:  — 


77th  annual  report 


17 


£ 

£ 

£ 

1959-60 

1958-59 

1957-58 

£ 

£ 

£ 

Commonwealth   Bureau   . 

3,250 

3,500 

3,500 

International    Bureau 

1,250 

1,250 

1,000 

Home  Research     ... 

3,800 

3,000 

3,000 

Bookshop     ... 

450 

1,000 

750 

Schools,  etc. 

1,250 

1,250 

1,250 

£10,000 

£10,000 

£9,500 

Once  again,  I  delight  in  recording  my  appreciation  of  the  energy  and 
loyalty  of  the  Society's  staff.  I  must  pay  a  special  tribute  to  Bill  Rodgers 
with  whom  I  worked  in  close  and  harmonious  association  for  so  many 
years.  Most  of  us  will  be  aware  of  his  many  qualities  as  a  speaker,  a 
writer  and  an  organiser  of  research  work.  What  was  borne  in  on  me 
was,  in  addition,  his  great  ability  as  an  administrator. 

I  am  very  grateful  to  Mr.  J.  Ian  Robertson  of  Messrs.  Pegg,  Robertson 
and  Co.,  for  continuing  to  act  as  the  Society's  Honorary  Auditor,  and  I 
should  like  to  add  a  special  word  of  thanks  to  all  those  who  have  subscribed 
to  our  Special  Appeal. 

JOHN    DIAMOND. 


18 


FABIAN   SOCIETY 
BALANCE    SHEET    AS 


LIABILITIES 

1959 

£      s. 

d. 

£       s.    d. 

£ 

Sundry    Funds — 

1000 

Edwards    Bequest    Fund    ... 

. . .     1000    0 

U 

12 

Scholarship     Fund 

12    9 

0 

10 

Women's    Group    Fund    ... 

9     8 

10 

71 

L.S.C.    Development    Fund 

38  13 

i 

77 

Pease    Fund 

72     5 

0 

1132  16     1 

1170 

Sundry     Creditors          

2184 
"5410 

3242  14    3 
2815    16  10 

£8,764 


£7191     7     2 


We  have  examined  the  Accounts  of  the  Fabian  Society  for  the  year  ended  30th.  June, 
we  have  required.  We  certify  that  the  Balance  Sheet  above  set  forth  is  properly  drawn  up  so 
of   our   information   and   explanations   given   to   us   and   as   shown  by   the   Society's   books. 

2%th   September,    1960. 
12,   Coleman   Street, 

London,    E.C.2. 


REVENUE  ACCOUNT  FOR  THE 


1959 
£ 
6497 
256 
220 
136 
450 
57 
463 
179 
860 

9118 


501 
281 


EXPENDITURE 

Administration    Expenses — 

Salaries    and    Allowances  

State     Insurance 

Pensions 

Travel    and    Entertainment  

General    Office    Expenses  

Research   Grants    and    Subscriptions    Payable 

General    Stationery  

Telephone 

Postage  ...         


Establishment   Charges- 
Rates,    Lighting.    Heating,    Income    Tax 
Maintenance    and    Cleaning 


782 


1481     Publications:    Free   Issues 
Other   Expenses — 
189  Interest    on    Overdraft 

111  Affiliation     Fees     ... 

300 

£11681 


6906  14  10 

264  8  0 

120  0  0 

110  16  4 

607  11  7 

50  14  11 

530  8  1 

195  11  5 

941  17  1 


464  10  5 
359  11  9 


182  0  11 
112  17  0 


9728  2  3 

824  2  2 

1505  17  3 

294  17  11 

£12352  19  7 


77TH   ANNUAL   REPORT 
AT  30th  JUNE,  1960 


19 


1959 

£ 

329 

85 

ASSETS 

Fixed   Assets — 

Bernard    Shaw   Gift   Fund   Freehold   Property    (not  valued) 

Furniture 

Library 

Current    Assets — 

Stocks           

Debtors         

Cash 

Accumulated  Deficit — 

Balance  at   1st  July,   1959       

Add  Deficiency  for  the  Year           

Less   Special    Appeal 

£ 

328 
85 

s. 

18 
0 

d. 

4 
0 

£      s.    d. 
413    18     4 

414 

2084 

2521 

42 

13 

10 

12 

8 
9 
4 

1594 

2939 
45 

4648   16     9 

4578 

3772 
81 

2 

14 

2 
5 

3772 

— 

3853 
1725 

16 
4 

7 
6 

2128   12     1 

£8,764 

£7191     7    2 

1960,   with    the   books   and   vouchers.      We   have   obtained   all   the   information   and   explanations 
as  to  exhibit  a  true  and  correct  view  of  the  state  of  the  Society's  affairs  according  to  the  best 

PEGG,  ROBERTSON  &  CO., 

Chartered   Accountants. 


YEAR    ENDING    30th    JUNE,    1960 


INCOME 


1959 
£ 
4219 

2856 

2750 

7 

Subscriptions                   

Donations — 

General    and    Special        

Dartmouth  Street  Trust 

Local    Societies    Committee        

5613 

122 
36 
733 
262 
400 

Other  Income — 

Royalties                 

Advertising               

Bookshop                 

Functions 

Rent    Receivable 

1553 

2559   14     6 

3000     0     0 

5     9   10 


198  9  10 
10  0  0 
1354  14  7 
262  14  6 
400    0    0 


£      s.    d. 
4479  11  11 


.5565    4    4 


296    Balance,   being  Deficiency  for  the  Year 


2226    8   11 


81   14     5 


£11681 


£12352  19     7 


20  FABIAN    SOCIETY 

APPENDIX    A 
MEMBERS  OF  MAIN  COMMITTEES 

(as  at  30th  June,  1960) 

Finance  and  General  Purposes  Committee 

J.  Diamond,  M.P.  (Chairman),  Dr.  Brian  Abel-Smith,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Cole,  Lord  Faringdon,  Denis  Healey.  M.P.,  H.  D.  Hughes,  John  Parker,  M.P., 
Arthur  Skeffington,  M.P.,  Mrs.   Mary  Stewart,  Mrs.  Eirene  White,  M.P. 

Home  Research  Committee 

H.  D.  Hughes  (Chairman),  Dr.  Brian  Abel-Smith,  Austen  Albu,  M.P.. 
Dr.  T.  Balogh,  Denis  Bell,  Margaret  Cole,  C.  A.  R.  Crosland,  M.P.,  John 
Diamond,  M.P.,  David  Donnison.  Richard  Evely.  Lord  Faringdon,  John 
Hughes,  Anne  Jackson,  Peggy  Jay,  Roy  Jenkins,  M.P.,  James  MacColl,  M.P., 
D  L  Munby,  Lionel  Murray,  Robert  Neild,  John  Parker,  M.P.,  R.  D.  V.  Roberts, 
W.  T.  Rodgers,  J.  R.  Sargent,  Michael  Shanks,  Peter  Shore,  Mary  Stewart, 
Peter  Townsend,  John  Vaizey. 

Commonwealth  Bureau  Committee 

Chafes  Archibald,  Dr.  T.  Balogh.  T.  F.  Betts,  David  Blelloch,  Roland 
Brown,  Rt.  Hon.  John  Dugdale,  M.P.,  Professor  Lionel  Elvin,  Lord  Faringdon. 
Michael  Fores,  Arthur  Gaitskell,  John  Hatch,  Dr.  Rita  Hinden,  Carol  Johnson, 
M  P.,  James  Johnson,  Rt.  Hon.  A.  Creech  Jones,  M.P..  Colin  Leys,  Rt.  Hon. 
Earl  of  Listowel,  Rt.  Hon.  Hilary  Marquand.  MAP.,  Miss  Marjorie  Nicholson. 
Derrick  Sington.  R.  W.  Sorensen,  M.P.,  George  Thomson,  MP..  Mrs.  Eirene 
White,  M.P.. 

International   Bureau   Committee 

A.  Wedgwood  Benn,  M.P.,  David  Ennals,  Denis  Healey,  MP.,  Colin  Jack- 
son, Roy  Jenkins.  M.P.,  Richard  Lowenthal,  T.  E.  M.  McKitterick,  Derrick 
Sington.  Hugh  Thomas,  George  Thomson,  M.P.,  Eric  Wolff,  Kenneth  Younger, 
Wayland  Young. 

Local  Societies  Committee 

Arthur  Skeffington.  M.P.  (Chairman),  Arthur  Blenkinsop,  H.  J.  Boyden. 
M.P.,  Margaret  Cole,  Peggy  Crane,  Colin  Jackson.  Sybil  Jeger,  James  Johnson, 
James  MacColl,  M.P.,  Margaret  McKav,  Tom  McKitterick,  Malco'm  Macpher- 
son,  J.  P.  M.  Millar,  Gabriel  Newfield,  R.  C.  Prentice.  M.P.,  J.  W.  Raisin.  W.  T. 
Rodgers,  Mary  Stewart,  Dick  Taverne,  John  Taylor.  George  Thomson.  M.P., 
and   regional   and  area    representatives. 

Schools  Committee 

Dr.  Brian  Abel-Smith.  Penelope  Balchin,  Gordon  Borrie,  Hilary  Chantler, 
Michael  Fores,  Stuart  Green,  Stephen  Hatch,  Mrs.  Sybil  Jeger,  Roy  Jenkins. 
M.P.,  Gerald  Kaufman,  Lisl  Klein,  Alison  Lough,  Duncan  Smith,  Philip 
Thurman. 

The  Hono-ary  Officers  of  the  Society  serve  as  ex-officio  members  of  all 
Committees. 


77th  annual  report  21 

APPENDIX  B 

HONORARY  SECRETARIES  OF  REGIONAL  AND   AREA  COMMITTEES 
OF  LOCAL  FABIAN  SOCIETIES 

(as  at  30th  September,  1960) 

Scotland:   K.  J.  N.  Wight,  38,  Roseangle,  Dundee. 

Northern:  Mrs.  M.  McMillan,  The  Haven,  37,  Sycamore  Road,  Middlesbrough, 

Yorks. 
Yorkshire  :   Mrs.  W.  B.  Walker,  6,  Heath  Villas,  Halifax,  Yorks. 
West  Midlands  :   C.  W.  Campling,  Burbach,  Wolvey  Lane,  Ryton,  Bulkington, 

Nr.  Nuneaton,  Warwicks. 
East  Midlands:  Mrs.  B.  N.  Baxter,  34,  Caledon  Road,  Sherwood,  Nottingham. 
South  Wales:    Miss  Gwyneth   Morgan,  J. P.,  27,   Morlais  Street,   Roath   Park, 

Cardiff. 
South-West:   Mrs.  B.  Sacof,  24,  Ormerod  Road,  Bristol  9. 
Surrey  :    Mrs.  B.  Vernon,  88,  Benhill  Wood  Road,  Sutton,  Surrey. 
Essex  :   Miss  Eve  Saville,  35,  Markham  Street,  London,  S.W.3. 
Kent:   K.  W.  May,  214,  High  Street,  Tonbridge,  Kent. 
London  :    Andrew  Campbell,  56,  Belsize  Park,  London,  N.W.3. 


HONORARY    SECRETARDES    OF    LOCAL  FABIAN  SOCIETIES 

(as  at  30th  September,   1960) 

Aberdeen:   Mr.  Andrew  Robertson,  54,  Devonshire  Road,  Aberdeen. 

Bangor  :    Mr.  Silvan  Jones,  Hafdre,  Penrhos,  Bangor,  North  Wales. 

Barking:    Mr.  Hugh  Copsey,   16,  Kilmartin  Road,  Goodmayes,  Ilford,  Essex. 

Barnsley:   Mr.  G.  E.  Green,  53,  Intake  Lane,  Barnsley,  Yorks. 

Barry:   Mrs.  J.  M.  Watts,  35,  Glamorgan  Street,  Barry. 

Bath:    Mrs.  M.  Hornblower,  29,  Forester  Avenue,  Bath. 

Bexley:    Mr.  Alan  L.  Fisher,   114,  Riefield  Road,  Eltham,  S.E.9. 

Birmingham:  Mrs.  M.  Jenkinson,  31,  Ashfield  Avenue,  Kings  Heath,  Birming- 
ham, 14. 

Bishops  Stortford:  Mrs.  J.  M.  Ditchfield,  27,  Ward  Crescent,  Bishops  Stort- 
ford,  Herts. 

Bolton  :   Mr.  E.  Stebbing.  5.  Ducie  Avenue,  Bolton,  Lanes. 

Bournemouth:   Mr.  Cyril  Speller,  687,  Wimborne  Road,  Winton,  Bournemouth. 

Braintree:  Mr.  Peter  Baldock,  91,  Church  Lane,  Bocking,  Braintree,  Essex. 

Bridgwater:  Mr.  R.  V.  Cook,  1.  Northfield,  Bridgwater,  Somerset. 

Brighton:   Mr.  R.  Newsam,  37,  Tongdean  Lane,  Brighton,  Sussex. 

Bristol  :   Mrs.  Jeannette  Britton,  17,  Westbury  Park,  Durdham  Down,  Bristol  6. 

Bromley:   Dr.  V.  Udall,   16,  Warren  Avenue,  Bromlev,  Kent. 

Calder:   Mrs.  W.  B.  Walker,  6,  Heath  Villas,  Halifax,  Yorks. 

Cardiff:   Miss  Margaret  Morris,  102,  Cathedral  Road.  Cardiff. 

Carlisle  :   Mr.  John  Walker,  37,  Sunnymeade,  Upperby,  Carlisle. 

Central  London:  Mr.  Ben  Nathan,  18.  Hartington  Court,  Hartinaton  Road,  W.4. 

Cheltenham  :  Miss  E.  V.  Engvall,  9,  Montpellier  Parade,  Cheltenham,  Glos. 

Chesterfield:  Mr.  D.  Webster,  Labour  Party  Offices,  Broad  Pavement,  Chester- 
field. 

Coventry:   Mr.  P.  R.  Jones,  26,  Rosslyn  Avenue,  Coventry. 

Croydon:   Miss  P.  Bloomfield,  3,  Theobald  Road,  West  Croydon,  Surrey. 

Darlington:  Mr.  E.  Shuttleworth,  26.  Marwood  Crescent,  Darlington,  Co. 
Durham. 


22  FABIAN   SOCIETY 

Derby:   Mrs.  B.  Guthrie,  144,  Manor  Road,  Derby. 

Dundee:    Mr.  K.  R.  Hutchings,   15,  Elgin  Street,  Dundee. 

Durham:   Mr.  J.  Colin  Hall,  1,  Neville's  Cross  Villas,  Durham  City. 

Eastbourne:    Mr.   Keith   Chapman,   91,    Pevensey  Road,   Eastbourne,   Sussex. 

East  London:   Mr.  John  Reardon,  7,  Charles  Booth  House,  E.l. 

Edinburgh:    Mr.  Tarn  Dalyell,  The  Binns,  Linlithgow,  East  Lothian. 

Epsom:   Mrs.  M.  Paskell,   107,  Hookfield,  Epsom,  Surrey. 

Fife:   Mr.  W.  L.  Taylor,  11,  Kennedy  Crescent,  Kirkcaldy,  Fife. 

Frome:    Mr.   H.  D.   Smart,  '  Karenza,'  Beechwood  Avenue,  Frome,  Somerset. 

Forest  Hill:   Mrs.  Norah  Wilson,  46,  Burge  Street,  S.E.I. 

Glasgow:   Mr.  W.  S.  Gray,  13.  Royal  Terrace,  Glasgow,  C.3. 

Gloucester:   Mr.  F.  B.  Wilton,  J. P.,  4,  Tuffley  Lane,  Gloucester. 

Grimsby:   Mr.  J.  Franklin,  10,  Marklew  Avenue,  Grimsby. 

Harlow  :    Mr.  Peter  Murrell,  27,  Broadfield,  Harlow,  Essex. 

Hartlepools  :   Mr.  W.  Morgan,  131,  Westbrooke  Avenue,  West  Hartlepool. 

Hastings:  Dr.  E.  W.  Skyrme,  12,  Wellington  Place,  Hastings,  Sussex. 

Hayes:   Mr.  Leo  Simpson,  104,  Bath  Road,  Harlington,  Middlesex. 

Huddersfield  :  Mr.  Alan  Taylor,  1,  Chatsworth  Close,  Almondbury,  Hudders- 
field. 

Isle  of  Man:   Mrs.  M.  Faragher,  Gorse  Crag,  Port  Erin,  Isle  of  Man. 

Kilmarnock:    Dr.  John  Shanks,  34.  Portland  Road,  Kilmarnock. 

Leeds  :   Miss  Marjorie  Brett,  la,  Allerton  Park,  Leeds,  7. 

Letchworth:    Mrs.  E.  Purdie,  23.  Barton  Green,  Hitehin.  Herts. 

Lincoln:   Mr.  G.  W.  Wood,  28,  Drake  Street,  Lincoln. 

Liverpool:  Mr.  G.  B.  McKenna,  51,  St.  George's  Avenue,  Higher  Tranmere, 
Birkenhead. 

Malden:   Dr.  W.  McCartney.  89,  Arundel  Road,  Kingston-on-Thames.  Surrey. 

Manchester  :  Mr.  C.  Hughes-Stanton,  2a,  Egerton  Road,  Fallowfield.  Man- 
chester,  14. 

Meopham  :    Mrs.  Joan  Wood,  Oast  Hatch,  Harvel,  Nr.  Gravesend,  Kent. 

North  Berks:  Miss  Ann  Jeffrey,  Ickneild  Way  House,  A.E.R.E..  Harwell, 
Nr.  Didcot,  Berks. 

North  London:   Mrs.  A.  Spector.  49,  Chardmore  Road,  N.16. 

Norwich  :    Mr.  E.  Hartley,   17,  Stanley  Avenue,  Norwich. 

Norwood:   Mrs.  J.  Edwards,  98,  Palace  Road,  Tulse  Hill,  S.W.2. 

Nottingham  :   Mrs.  Beth  Tate,  26,  Parkside,  Beeston,  Nottingham. 

Oldham  :  Mr.  M.  J.  McCarthy,  46,  North  Gate,  Garden  Suburb.  Oldham,  Lanes. 

Oxford:    Mr.  K.  Holly,  Cader,  Abingdon  Road.  Dorchester-on-Thames,  Oxon. 

Peterlee:    Mr.  George  Piekersgill,  20,  Yoden  Road,  Peterlee,  Co.  Durham. 

Pontvpool  :  Mrs.  Lilian  Evans,  9,  Stratford  Road,  Grifhthstown,  Pontypool, 
Mon 

Portsmouth:   Mr.  J.  R.  Green,  62,  Warren  Avenue.  Milton,  Southsea.  Hants. 

Preston:   Mrs.  Pat  Healy,  84,  Coniston  Road,  Fulwood,  Preston. 

Redhill:  Mr.  Sidney  Smith,  67.  Colman  Way.  Redhill.  Surrey. 

Sheffield:   Miss  Iw  Evison,  220.  Carterknowle  Road,  Sheffield,  7. 

Slough:   Mr.  F.  C.  Evenett,  229f,  High  Street,  Slough,  Bucks. 

Southampton:    Mr.  W.  A.  Stearn,  35a,  Avenue  Road,  Southamnton. 

South  Dorspt:    Mr.  J.  A.  Aucutt,  6,  Howard  Close,  Weymouth,  Dorset. 

Stafford:   Mr.  Peter  Shenton,  19.  Trinity  Gorse,  Trinity  Fields.  Stafford. 

Stevenage:   Mrs.  Ruth  Langford,  9,  Benstede,  Stevenage.  Herts. 

Stockport:   Mr.  Ham/  Lees,  32,  Ashley  Road,  Offerton,  Stockport. 

Streatham:    Mr.  C.  J.  Blau,  30,  Thornton  Avenue.  Streatham  Hill,  S.W.2. 

Sunderland:    Mr.  G.  W.  Gardiner,  41,  Westcliffe  Road.  Seaburn.  Sunderland. 

Sutton:    Mrs.  Betty  Vernon,  88,  Benhill  Wood  Road,  Sutton,  Surrey. 

Swansea  :    Mrs.  Margaret  Jones,  The  Labour  Hall,  High  Street,  Swansea. 

Tees-S'de:  Mrs.  Mabel  McMillan,  The  Haven,  37.  Sycamore  Road,  Linthorpe. 
Middlesbrough. 

Thanet:    Mr.  R.  Sankey,  6,  First  Avenue.  Cliftonville.  Kent. 

Tynfs'de:   Mr.  Colin  Gray,  8,  Gretton  Place,  Newcastle-on-Tyne.  7. 


77th  annual  report  23 

University  of  London:   Mr.  J.  Hirsch,  17,  Brattle  Wood,  Sevenoaks,  Kent. 
Walthamstow  :   Miss  Doreen  Wyld,  24  (L),  Bisterne  Avenue,  E.17. 
Watford:   Mrs.  C.  Dore,  7,  Eastbury  Road,  Oxhey,  Herts. 

West  Middlesex:    Mr.  F.  Harcourt-Munning,  9,  Madeley  Road,  Ealing,  W.5. 
Wigan:  Mr.  C.  Brown,  Granary  House,  17,  Springpool,  Winstanley,  Nr.  Wigan. 
Woking:   Mr.  Leif  Mills,  36,  Frere  Avenue,  Lea  Farm,  Fleet,  Hants. 
Wolverhampton:    Mrs.    O.    Tragen,    105,    Yew   Tree    Lane,    The    Wergs,    Nr. 

Wolverhampton. 
Wrexham  :  Mrs.  K.  Davies,  Delfryn,  Stryt  Las,  Rhos,  Nr.  Wrexham. 
York  :    Mr.  Raymond  Fairey,  5,  Jewbury,  York. 


PRINTED  IN  LONDON 

BY 

DEVONPORT   PRESS   LIMITED 
(T.U.) 

DEVONPORT   ROAD 
W.  1  2