WEMBLEY TO BE SOLD. THE LIQUIDATORS' DECISION.
Wembley Exhibition land and build- ings are to be sold, by order of the liquidators, Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., Sir
papers.
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, - THURSDAY, JANUARY 14rs,
BRITISH DYESTUFFS.
GOVERNMENTS WITHDRAWAL. DISASTROUS VENTURE IN STATE
INTERFERENCE."
the Association which has existed an "a disastrous genture
in State interference."
TRADE UNIONS AND SOVIET. BOLSHEVIK TACTICS IN GREAT BRITAIN.
[BY THE LABOUR CORRESPONDENT OF "
THE TIMES.
Several questions were put to the Presi James Cooper, and Sir Arthur Whinneylent of the Board of Trade in the House
It is one of the chief annoyances to the They have retained Messrs. Knight, of Commons last month relative to the trade union friends of the Bolsheviks in Frank and Butley (Hanover-square), as withdrawal of Government capital and this country that Zinoviefi, president of agents, and a preliminary announcement control from the British Dyestuffs Cthe Comintern, will keep "butting in by that firm is published in the Home,poration. One of the members describedo makes the intimate reinitionship of the Communist Party with the Russian trade unions too apparent. He announces from time to time the part they are to Lieut. Copunander. Astbury (U... 'Sal-
play in the revolutionary cause both ford, West) raised the matter by asking inside and outside Russia. He destroys, the President of the Board of Trade if with a sentence, the carefully rehearsed the Dyestuffs Development Committee,
scene in which the Russian anions were constituted under the Dyestuffa Import
to appear as separate anil económically Regulation Act, was consulted before the conscious organisations secking the car decision was taken in respect of the aurliest opportunity to set themselves free render by the Government of its right from a political domination. to veto. und control the actions' of the British Dyestuffs Corporation
"The Imperial purpose of the great Exhibition having been achieved," says the announcement. it leaves Greater London with a new township for housing or other purposes and with buildings which have great commèrcial possibilities and exceptional transport facilities, both by railway connections and proximity to arterial roads,"
over
Association.
Opportunities may be afforded to ne- quire other buildings by arrangement with the owners, and it is indicated that probably terms could be arranged with the owners of leasehold land adjoining the freehold for the grant of an extended term in the event of the property being required for permanent development. Arrangements would have to be made if the continuance of the railway sidings is desired.
!
on the committee.
Lieut.-Commander Astbury: Is it fair or wise to come to this decision without consulting the committee?
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister: Yes The Goy ernment, upon whom the responsibility must rest, investigated the whole matter extremely closely, and satisfied themselves that they had taken into consideration all the relevant facts.
Mr. Hurst (U. Moss Side): Is not the Dyestuffs Corporation free to give up the manufacture of dyes and to take up the work of distributing German dyestuffs?
Sir P. Cunliffe, Lister: The statement made by the chairman at the general meeting was that nothing was further from their intention.
Mr. Bethel (L., Eccles) asked the Presi predent of the Board of Trade why the Government had surrendered to the British Dyestuffs Corporation capital of of £1,100,000; and the nominal value. whether he was aware that this
The present annat necment is liminary, and no date has been named for an auction: indeed, it may not be necessary to have one, as ample time will be given for private ncgotiation.
91213
RECONSTRUCTION OF VICKERS. £12,112,000 TO BE WRITTEN OFF.
Shareholders in Vickers, Limited, the famous shipbuilding and engineering conibination, last month received details of a plan for the reorganization of the company. In a covering letter the Board state that they have had under conside ration the necessity of writing down the company's share capital, particularly in view of its reduced earning power as the result of post-war conditions. The Board accordingly invited Mr. F. Pudlog Docker, Mr. Reginald McKenna, and commendations as they thought fit, both Sir William Plender to make such re as regards the financial position of the The company and its management. Directors state that, after very careful consideration of the proposals, they re- commend their adoption.
ZINOVIEFT ON THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. The order has been issued, as our Riga correspondent has reported that the Russian, unions, with when the Amstering this dan International will have to dealings
to the course of their report the authors of the scheme declare that the sum needed to write down the assets of the company to the figure which they can sider can reasonably be regarded as their approximate present value and to pro side for contingent and other capital fiabilities is £19,412,366. Towards fund. aum it is suggested that £3,600,000 be taken from the reserve fund and £63,044 from the credit at proft and loss. The remaining £8,210,3 is to be found by reducing the nominal value of the Ordinary shares to es. Sd. per whare, thus reducing the issued Ordinary capital from £12.315,483 to £4,106,151.
After reiting a number of general which have combined to bring about so heavy a capital shrinkage the causes Framers of the scheme refer to the steps which the management of Vickers took were expected to follow the war. to meet the change in conditions that state:
They
It was rightly expected that peace would bring greatly changed conditions, and in order to meet the anticipated aat participations were taken in various demand for peace products very import industrial enterprises. It would appear, the special experience required to direct however, that the management had not and control so large and varied a body of industrial undertakings, particularly during a period of protracted and severe
depression.
The freehold extends to the acres, and includes one of the largest ground-flour buildings, for permanent industrial use, in the world-namely, the Palace of
Sig. Philip Cunliffe-Lister (President of Engineering. This is built of reinforced concrete, with five intersecting lines of the Board of Trade): No, sir, chut the railways, and five 75t. roof spans of top lights, and overhead railways with five Government were satisfied, before com travelling cranes capable of dealing withing to a decision on the matter in ques-without antecedent assurances) are "at loads of 23 tons. The 13 acres of con-
were fully apprised of the all costs to maintain unity with the eteted floor space under one roof aretion, that they served by five lines of railway running views of the various interests represented British trade unions." The order comes through it. The Palace of Industry, an
from the Central Committee of the Cor other of the principal buildings, has ten neres of floor space. The Palace of Art is another spacious structure, having
munist Party. The first duty assigned to the British unions in the Communist an nere of floor space. The Stadium, accommodating 100,000 specta-
strategy has been, and still is, that of tors, is comprised in the coming sale, subject to the tenancy of the Football
opening the door into the Amsterdarz International. In no circumstances are they to be allowed an excuse-if they should be looking for one-to throw up the task. Zinovicff has more than once called attention to the main features of the plan of campaign, and he went over them again at a recent conference of the Russian metal workers Beginning with the preamble (now customary in all speeches of Bolshevik leaders) that the
Further, your company made invest Locarno Pact is directed against the
ments which have not only, proved un. Soviet Republics and the workers of the world, he went on to say that the attain- ment of the world revolution had assumed remuerative, but are now the subject of considerable liability. Wo are therefore the phase of a "slow and heavy proof opinion that in order to meet the cess and,contrary to our early ex- pectations, may take years to ripen." present-day character and organization MX. THOMAS'S SUGGESTIONS.
Our task in the sphere of the interna-of your company a far-reaching change
in the method of control is desirable. tional revolutionary movement (he added) The changes recommended include a Many suggestions had been made, Mr. Thomas said. in an interview, for con-
must at present be reduced to three main tinuing Wembley as an Imperial centre,
fines. The tactics of a single front are reconstitution of the present directorate merely entering their first stage and are and the setting up of three management but he thought tha Government were wise in their decision that they were not
beginning to assume a peculiar form. It boards-viz, (a) industrial board, (5) seems to me that we should divide this armaments and shipbuilding beard, (c) in a position to spend more public money for that purpose.
In my judgment," he
movement into three main channels. The finance board. The authors of the recon- went on, the best use for Wembley
first main channel is the Anglo-Soviet struction scheme, after urging a policy rapprochement.
It has its economic of retrenchment as regards superfluous would be as a site for future exhibitions.
roots, but, in the long run, proves that officials, and the closing down of plant I have no doubt but that it would be
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister: it is eminently British Labour is beginning to emancipate that is acting as a dead weight on the more valuable for this purpose than any other. It has to be remembered that all desirable that a company should write itself from bourgeois influence by gradu- undertaking, express the opinion that the vast capital expenditure in the down its capital to a figure, which cor-ally shedding the old Adam of reformiam, provided trade does not get worse the making of roads and garders, the insta! responded with the actual position of the and also, if slowly, approaching our point company, under efficient management, of view. The Social Democratic gentry should be able to continue to meet deben. ling of light, water, etc., was all to meet
frequently point out to us that in most turs interest and Preference dividentis the requirements of an exhibition, and although Wembley is useful and could
European countries Compaunists are still and to resume dividend payments on the in the minority, and ask with the aid of reduced Ordinary share capital ae recom
The liquid resources of the be adapted for many purposes, all these
what troops we Communists expect to mended services and this expenditure render it
overthrow them? Well, if we may judge company, they state, are large and fully more uafeul as an exhibition than as
from the state of mind of the Labour equal to meet a considerable expansion "AGENT FOR GERMAN FIRM." anything else. We have had hosts of sug-
delegations which come to visit is in in its business, gestions. I must say, however, that the Lient. Commander Astbury enquired increasing numbers, we may confidently greater number are from people who whether the Government were aware that reply, "With the aid of their own troops, Want to be paid for what they suggest Lord Ashield had stated at Manchester the workers, who at present are still in
A Washington cables states that Major as ideas for the future of Wembley, that the pact between the German. In the enemies'' ranks. Therefore, the first General William Lassiter has been ap- I would like to make it clear that teressen Gemeinschaft and the British channel of our international work is the pointed to succeed General Pershing as my function, and that of my colleagues, Dyestuffs Corporation might come off, and establishing at all costs and by all means Sir James Cooper and Sir Arthur Whin-if that were the case did it not mean that of a close contact with those workers who head of the Tacna-Arica plebiscito com- ney, is that of liquidators and pot faan- the British Dyestuffs Corporation would are still following in the wake of reform-mission. General Lassiter is at present ciers. It is our job to realise the assets merely become an agent for this Germaniats and semi-reformists. of Wembley in the interests of the guar firm? Would the right hon. gentleman REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT IN ORIENT antors, and, however promising other make enquiries to see whether the re- schemes raay be, they are for other search chemists of the British Dyestuffs people to consider.
Corporation were being discharged!
BEST USE OF THE SITE.
elieved the corporation of all deprecis tion and thereby prejudiced the interests of the other competing dye-making com panies and "Erms in the country.
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister: I regret that am unable to accept the premise advanced by my hon. friend, or the conclusion which he draws from it.
Lieut. Commander "Astbury Is it fair that 50 per cent. of the whole capital of the British Dyestuffs Corporation should be wiped out, and that the other firms should be practically forced to down?
business.
close
Mr. Hardie (Lab.-Soc., Springburo): When can the action of the Government in this matter be challenged?
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister: At the proper time, when the Government will reply.
Mr. S. Webb (Lab-Soc., Seaham): Has the transaction been actually completed, or is it still under discussion?
The second channel is the revolutionary movement in the Orient. That is a mighty river, which is ploughing its way through every obstruction. This is China Japan, India. We have already scored some successes in China, and Canton re- minus one very much of Moscow." Other important centres will probably soon fol- We may expect, considerable low suit. successes in Japan,, which is pregnant with a bourgeoia revolution, and may develop a revolutionary movement of the
It has been suggested that Wembley. Sir P. Cunlife-Lister: The answer I should be made into a British Hollywood have given deals with both these points. for the production of British films. It i think the hon. member is wrong has likewise been suggested that a pri- regards what Lord Ashfield said at the vate housing estate should be developed general meeting referred to.. there, and there have been, all sorts of suggestions for the developing at Wem- bley as an industrial centre, and for the use of the main palaces as warehouses. All these ideas are excellent, but it is our job to sell "and not to consider schemes entailing further expenditure."
As to whether Wembley was to be soldject to confirmation at an adjourned meet-adaptation of our old Comiatern methods in one lot, or whether offers would being of the shareholders
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister: No. The Gov- crnment has made a firm offer, and that offer was accepted at an extraordinary labour masses. general meeting of the shareholders, sub-
Mr. Hurst asked whether the President of the Board of Trade would state what was the total sum of money paid or pay- able down to date by the Government to the British Dyestuffs Corporation by way of commission on the sales of reparation dyes.
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister: The amount paid- or payable to the British Dyestuffs Cor Foration, Ltd, for commission on sales of reparation dyestuffs to the end of Octo
considered for part, Mr. Thomas said they were out to get the best possible price in the interests of the guarantors and, whilst in his judgment Wembley was more valuable as a whole for future ex- bibitions, if a better price could be ob. tained by dividing it into separate lots they would not hesitate to do so. We have had a number of suggestions," add- ed Mr. Thomas, for the use of the Stadium. I do not know if I am divulg. ing a secret when I say that whatever
Mr. Hurst: Will the right hon. gentle-. happens to the Stadium I believe the
man consider the advisability of appoint Government will be prepared to use iting a Select Committee to enquire into for the home of future Tattoos. Any this disastrous venture in State interfer- way, I should not be surprised if there ence? is a Tattoo there next year. Of course, the Football Final contract would be taken over by the purchaser."
Mr. Thomas mentioned that the liqui- dators had had several suggestions as to the disposal of the site. and what might 1 considered as amounting to firm offers, but they were dealing with public money, And, before any offer could be accepted, it was their job to see if any better one was likely to be forthcoming No de- finite conclusion had been arrived at yet with regard to the Dominions and Colonial buildings. According to con tract, these buildings had to be removed, and the ground left "clear if the autho rities so desired, and, it depended to a great extent on what the Exhibition site would be used for as to whether it would be required to carry out the conditions of this contract.
(Continued at foot of next Column.)
ber, 1925, is £81,800.
Sir P. Cunliffe Lister: No, sir. It is one of the reasons why the Government thought it most desirable that they should cease to be shareholders in this company, and that it should be in the same position of the other dye-making companies. It is undesirable that the Government should be directly associated with any one of them."
An Hon. Member: What is the total loss to the British taxpayer in this matter?
Sir P. Cunliffe-Lister demanded notice of that question.
The third and last channel is the
of cell-construction under the most dif- cult circumstances. Our enemies are striving to disrupt our cells, but we, like ants, rebuild them over again, and teach Communists in other countries to do the
This channel is the most import same. ant one. Without it victory is impossible, either in England, Germany, or anywhere. We are laying the foundations of our work the Communist cells. Our success in the trade unions it but the reflection of the Communist Party's influence on the
mass of the workers.
Such are the three main channels of sur policy, which we must learn to converge into one. At present we are working at the Bolshevizing of our sister parties in various countries. But we refist also work at a more intense Bolshevization of our own trade unions, who form the vanguard of the revolutionary proletariat of the world. The Bolshevization of our trade unions means that they must learn to build up Socialism, to collect carefully and lovingly every scrap of proletarian energy into the common revolutionary cauldron. Above all and first of all, as the vanguard of Labour, they must be, and remain, from head to foot, proletarian international revolutionaries.
These quotations, taken from Izvestia of December 1st, confirm many former and equally open declarations of the par- pose which the Anglo-Russian trade union As to whether a call would be made fraternization is expected to fulfil on upon the guarantors, and for how much, behalf of Communism. Tomsky, the pre- Mr. Thomas replied that this would be sident of the All-Russian Council of Trade announced in due course. He was not Unions, has never made any counter- prepared to anticipate the announcement; declaration. All he has ever said in, much would depend upon what Wembley Russia or hero. has corroborated Bino" ultimately realised.
"vieff's affirmations.
in Panama and has been instructed to proceed to Arica forthwith, to enable General Pershing to return to the United States for medical treatment.
1926
Use Electricity for heating-
as it suits your purpose
and your pocket
The extent to which Electric Heat can be used with economy varies in different districts.
Electric Heating and Cooking are developing rapidly and all the time becoming cheaper in consequence of the increasing demand.
ELECTRICITY is made from coal, often too poor in quality for any other use.
ELECTRICITY brings direct to you the heat of the coal, in a form ready for use without dirt or labour.
ELECTRICITY IS replacing all other means of Lighting and Power.
Electric Heating can be used to supplement older methods or in place of them, accord- ing to local conditions and to suit the user.
KỮ •
National Interests will NOT be endangered by the wider use of that universal carrier of Light, Heat and Power-
ELECTRICITY.
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