1957-08-03 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 3, 1957.

Pago 7

QUICK-on-the-DRAW COUSINS BOOM

He could

become

sheriff

RANK Cousins, said a trade union historian

FRANK, Cousins, fusta in a Wild West suga.

Not a bad gunman, but a good gunman. A kind of Robin Hord of the prairies. He is going through an heroic, tempestuous phase. And he is qualifying.

For what? Why, to become the sheriff. And when he becomes the sheriff, the upholder of inw and order, the reputation he is now building for being "quick on the draw" will be one of his greatest assets.

BM let any hombre step mit of Inc when Frank is the shariff-wby, he'll Boon be shot down by Frank,

It's t nombrely amusing analogy. Mr Cousins

may not recognise him- self In this role, But it 13 sur-

prising how many

other trade union icaders do.

The fear

by

TREVOR

EVANS

he will mellow, and be more tolerant en minorities, always provided, of course, they are not too violent to his majority.

But just now he is sill on the way up. He will need allies to get to the top. He still has to win them. But he has one inestimabio inducement.

In a hundred

A

Industries, Jus!

over a year ago.

I have

Gardonic feeling. Joside of me when I recall that earlier this year was advising him how useful a public rela- tions man could be to hin organisation

He appeared to be listening Intently, But he has done nothing about it. Come to think of it, why should he?

There isn't a publle relations man living who could get Frank "xito the papers" as frequently as he manages to do it Lar himself.

But let me odd that he is no publicity-secker. On the con- trary, he is sonallive about many references to him. None of thic "don't-mind-what-they-

way-us-long-as-they-say-It" at- titude In him,

Grenade

NYONE in his tremendously

A key Job, friluencing

it

does the whole T.U.C, as well as the Socialist Party, would attract some attention. It is Frank Cou- ains himself who holds it.

Today he is the generalissimo behind the disputes on the provincial bus routes and In Covent Garden. Today, too, he will dominate the secret talks between the Odbars manage- ment and the TUC. on. future of the Daily Herald.

the

Cummings

Last week can be thrown back to he embarrass him in the future.

Oa Wednesday night threw a verbal hand-grenade into the orderly proceedings at the Treasury

by asking Mr Thorneycroft, The Chancellor, what the Government would do if the TUC, refused to read the advice of the Government's proposed super-court on Infia- tionary problems.

Selfish?

U15

:

selfish.

E rebuked me recently for

describing him This was before his mike- at Torquay hogging marathon He swore to me then that he is not selish. I accept that.

The other T.U.C. chiefs were

But another word,

another as startled as Mr Thorncycroti. And when courteous Sir Thomas description, must be found for call Williamson,

chairman what come of his enemies TU.C. pointed cut the T.U.C. had not his megalomania, and others his Oh, yes, Mr considered this, Frank Cousins exhibitionism. brusquely told Sir Tom not to Cousins hes made enemies, and interrupt.

he knows I,

Masterly

eated to himself at his union's conference last week.

So for "selfish" let us sub- stitute what Cousins himself told

me,

"I am jealous for my organisa- tion." And his inferpretation

of this jealousy is to make certain that

one, whether in the inner council chambers of the TUC., on public platforms, or in the Inner sanctums of Whitehall, may be permitted to forget the importance Transport Worker's Union.

.... But let any hombre step out of line when Frank is the sheriff -why, he'll soon be shot down-by Frank.'

TINISTERS are

now

Mshowing some cautious

optimism about the economic outlook and the main reason is that Britain's exports are run- ning at the highest level ever.

In the first half of the year

Boods worth £1.756

million were sold to the world.

As the chart below shows, this was a rise of £85,000,000 over the first six months of last year and of £306 million over the first half of 1955. And dollar exports jumped £15,000,000 to £218 million.

JOBS GOING Also on the brighter side:--- PRODUCTION in the fac- tories up six per cent so far this year. There are 309,000 JOBS

vacant, against 265,000 unemployed.

|SAVINGS have risen by £65,000,000 to £6,272 million.

All this will be underlined by Mr Harold. Macmillan when he speaks to a Tory

go the

exports

By DEREK MARKS

and DEREK, DALE

Party rally at Bedford. His points:-

THE TRADE GAP is re- maining steady, and be- cause of improvements in "Invisible" carnings gold and dollar reserves went. up by £78,000,000 in the first six months.

STEEL production is up five per cent, COAL produc- tlon by three per cent, and the output of CARS ----many for export is the highest over.

Nevertheless, rising prices at home and the rise. in Im- ports are producing situation which could be described as "serious."

а

now

:

But the Cabinet is

hoping that most of the criticism will die down until M.P.s get away for their long summer holl-

day,

HOW BRITAIN SELLS TO THE WORLD

UP £1

UP £12m

ARE WHISKY

CARS & LORRIES

UP £14m

of the

CHEMICALS

UP £20m

HIRON & STEEL

UP £24m

MACHINERY -

UP £8m

The future

E fascinates me,

bewilders me. If he doesn't Often he make an unlikely, unholy slip inside his union he is bound, nt 52. to be a big shot for years to come.

It is a matter which he shrugs Twould please some to see

off with surprising Indifference. down,"

1 say surprising, for this York- but others are alarmed by h

shire ex-miner, ex-lorry driver world in which he would dis-

THROUGHOUT lost

week, gocs in fer

perceptive self pense his kind of low and order.

when his union held is con- analysis with extraordinary For "Sheriff" Frank GS The

ference at Torquay, Mr Cousins detachment, and he must realise custodian of trade union regula- His block vote of 1,300,000 is spoke 50 times, his deputy, Mr that for any man seeking power

I hope most of those years tion might not only interpret the the mightiest wespon in the Harry Nicholas, twice, and the friends are more useful than will sce him as the upholder rules but seçk To make thera trede union urmoury. It can cther 13 national officers were remles.

of law and order. as well.

forge alllpneus. It can shatter left out in the cold.

As the sheriff whose gunplay It often

the means

And now we get near to the He is already the head of the rivals.

Were they upset? Some were, secret of Frank Cousins. For he is only a nostalgic memory. country'e biggest union. He difference, between victory and

friends, be defent for controversial policies. But the delegates loved Mr has his

his devoted would like its polley to endorsed by the whole T.U.C. No wonder he demands atten- Cousins, He could not give them admirers, They are the great enough. HLs manner was majority of the members of his masterly, An analysis of his union.

was was revealing. It for the Socialist Party increly For these days Mr Cousins is matter

He makes news. not nearly as "Left" as his re- to give "political expression" to everywhere. what the unions decide. And He has been making news ever pulation. that could

what Mr zinet he became the general If Mr Cousins does plan to en almost Cousins decides.

secretary of the mighty Trans- rakse himself to domination of ence. This theory explains both Personally, I think that is en port arist General Workers' the whole trade union movement the Treasury Incident and the unjustified fear. My bet is that Union, with 1,000,000 members of Britain, little of what he said dazzling prominence he allo-

And he thinks it reasonable

mean

ton.

Continued from page 6

For them he works prodigious hours. For most others he has arrogant Intoler-

RETURN TO THE ISLANDS by Sir Arthur Grimble

It was en enormous sum

by

night I Next

Was

the replied, but they took it as just came.. another evasion.

would suffice to meet the un- intended excess of force used in the fear and passion of the But the magistrale moment.

ell

island reckoning. I wanted magistrate alone who them cut of their misery, and "Kurimbo,” he opened, after I went to bed, as miserable as the idea templed me until

preliminary my come

dithering, any of them, and was half mind asked why the whole what news have you for us?" asleep when I heard low voices turned to the accused: island should pay for the work

In the other room. I went out us." be said to the big, qule! "No news at all for you," I with the lamp, Ten people were youth who had disarmed and I answered tarily answered, "except what I told waiting there, grouped in pairs, stunned Albert, "were you afraid "And what if he dies of his those men inst night," It was the five old men of the depute. of the gun?" Injuries? How much sopra hard on him, perhaps, but his tion, each with a younger mot then? Or if not copra,/ who will rock-and-buli stuff about seeing clinging to his hand. That way

Albert pay the price?"

nothing when

was grown men had of holding hands attucked stil rankled. Besides, always moved

me with Its 110 official inter- Innocence,

of a few. Then, because I had wavered,

I wasn't trying to blust them I wanted

I intended nothing bút to mediary between the people and blow their case out. But they me at that point, read my rhetorical questions ar menning that Albert was dying

Two evenings later n

shaky

or dead. Since the pastors had old velce from the darkness out- naved his life, nobody had con- sido announced the arrival of celved of that possibility, I another deputation: "Kurimbo BIW their faces suddenly you shall be blest... we stricken with the thought; the visit you." murder of a white man,

The right answer was: "You could see them thinking all to shall be blest,

Enter," Enter, gother

dead? Is he

And wondering what would happen As I replied. I set the hurricane

it ho were,

lamp on the floor al my feet,

One of the elders led his com-

Much too legalistic...

panion forward a step or two: "I WAS not

This is my adopted grandson. These are our sons or grand- sons," he whispered, and stopped,

angry."

afraid, only

your

"And what

was in heart?

Did you intend to wound him?” .

7 cut in to say no law could

At last they oblige him to answer that ques-

understood

GUESSED the rest before the young man spoke: We Five old men, every one have stood on guard about this I should have tried to knock friend, drifted in forlornly and house lost tal-bearers visit you the idea out of their heads at set crumpled on the mat beyond by night, Kurimbo. And now we , once; half of me wanted to, but it.

have come with our fathers and was passed round, grandfathers to give

up. We killed that man."

the cautious half refused. I

Tobacco

enld instead, "As you're imagin pipes were lit: I talked banali- ing purishments,

they answered with

tion, but he caly smiled at me and turned again to the magistrate: "I wished to wound him I tried to kill him, I WAS angry when Timonl's wife inter- fered."

The others followed his lead. What can a defence do for that kind of pig-headed candour? The magistrate

them ourselves year each.

guve

My ship arrived two days later, and I took them with me "You didn't kill him, you to Ocean Island, picking Albert

remember cs; what I told. Timoni: no battle incmulous courtesy; I talked diols, I remember shouting up from Tarawa by the way. My cruiser is coming to Arorae."

on to those bowed white heads; "You didn't kill him; he's not revered Chief said he'd never

so forth-but they only stared Hand-in-hand at last. The old men were

at ma in sick silence until I

the

they waited

I added other things-Bellain and that is all that happened, dead; he isn't going to die." I seen such a ghostly meas as I didn't do things like that, and

rept on babbling just that and bad mado of everything. My nothing sise.

It got through to jurisdiction didn't run in

the Southern Gliberts District, weeping. "Our song will not be Nothing I had done had a legal hanged? "No baille eruisor leg to stand on. And why, oh will come?", "You are hiding why, he asked, while I was nothing from us?"-the quaver bounding around the islands 1 THEIR Himliable good man- ing chorus of questions broke exceeding my powers hadn't

ners just would not let them me up completely. I found my exceeded them to the extent of pry behind the vell I had myself self exchanging hugs with all of reducing the magistrate's created. After a heartbreaking them.

sentences at once. When I sald hour, I could keep it up no longer; a desolated slience foll upon us.

stopped. And then Someone whispered, so low that his voice barely came through blaniceting roar of the surf:

Kurimbo....you ar friend..........what are you from us?"

1

They left

our

hiding

in silence

#THAT "you are our friendly shamed me into almost

They TOM "Kurimbo.... We go shall be blost.".

before the native court.

I couldn't be defence counsel So the next day the young in one breath and court of men came to stand their trial appeal in the next, he said I was too damned legalistle for words. The whole laland packed the But it didn't really matter: he unstondily:

you spoke-homine, A long, groaning

alah went up as they ploaded Packed the prisoners back to guilty to x charge of nssault Arors within three months.

It was hard to ace them leave, with intent to wound. I could shouting the truth: "Don't be like that, emply of all but fores do life for the defence but 'Why?' I didn't any he was going bodings. I called after them: plead ho- mitigating circum

to die. Hơs not.” But it mado "No. warship is coming. No stanots. I took the, ling that no difference. They left withe, quindig, Never, Do you hear?” what with the grom threat of -out a word,

**Wo == 'hoại,”\\\enelor ... them the gun 'n very labik, ventence

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The thank-offering

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