12 MAY 1928, Page 3

Mr. Spencer said that the ballot will make no difference

at all to his union or to its relation with the owners. " Our members and funds are increasing," he declared. Altogether, the ballot was a strange performance. The moderate elements in the Labour Party had earnestly exhorted the miners to save the " unity of trade unionism," and not to let the issue be obscured by the Communism of Mr. Cook, the General Secretary of the Miners' Federk tion. Yet it was precisely the Communism of Mr. Cook which inspired all the actions of the Minority Movement, and brought about the split. All that can hardly be called irrelevant. The Trades Union Council has suc- ceeded in achieving a vote for unity, but the reality of unity is still far away. * * * *