There was some plain speaking at the Council meeting of
the National Transport Workers' Federation at Swansea on Friday week and Saturday last. Mr. Gosling as President boasted of the strength of the "Triple Alliance," and, while declaring that it was not directed against the community, he said that it would demand "radical improvements in working conditions and a definite change in status," whatever the consequences might he. He advocated co-operation with the Germans, and sneered at the National Industrial Council as an attempt "to checkmate tho workers' demands." This mischievous speech was described by Mr. Sexton as "merely an individual expres- sion of opinion:" It was severely criticized next day by Mr. Thorne, Mr. Havelock Wilson, and Mr. Tillett, who pointed out that the Executive without any authority were committing the transport workers to courser' of which they did not approve. Indeed, Mr. Gosling ,himself admitted that most Trade Unionists did not want political strikes. Finally a resolution was adopted forbidding the Executive, as a party to the "Triple Alliance," to threaten a 'strike without first taking a ballot of the Unions concerned.
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