T.U.C. Delegates Reminded Of Responsibility

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1948, Page 5

T.U.C. Delegates Reminded Of Responsibility

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Received Monday, 10.5 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 5. Trade unions had never had such political and economic power as they had today, said the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. G. F. Fisher, addressing Trade Union Congress delegates at a special service in Margate. "Never has the possession of that po'wer been so dangerous or its wise exercise so difficult. Mechanical power in the old days played a very small part in human life, and politica, economic and military power were not easily concentrated into explosive acts. Now, however, the machinery of life, and political, economic and control it control the whole future of men, society and nations, and any power holder throwing a spanner mto the works may dislocate the life of a nation or the world. I am sure you trade unions recognise your terrific responsibility. "Situated as Britain is today, economically still a long way from making borh ends meet, still buying more from abroad than she can pay for, and still threatened with bankruptcy, which would cut down drastically jnot only our amenities but our very means of subsistence, you know as well as anyone else that false moves and errors of judgment may bring disaster upon us all. Only great wisdom and concentration of united endeavour can get us out of our trouble."