“(c) The means to achieve the democratic management of industries in national ownership.
“(d) How far the representation of Trade Unions, through their Executives or by ballot of the members, could ensure participation in actual control, and whether, for effective control, it is not necessary that the employees in the workshop or the pit shall construct an organization, integral to any scheme of democratic management.
“(e) Whether the sole or partial management by Labour of industries in national ownership should be confined to the actual workers therein, or should include workers in other occupations.”
The delegate who moved the resolution pointed out that there were different opinions in the Labour Party as to control; one section advocating nationalization pure and simple, another a system of control not necessarily involving nationalization, and that for the guidance of the whole Labour movement an inquiry, as suggested by the resolution, was essential so that “instead of having so many pious resolutions they would have facts and data upon which to build their future policy and activity,” The guidance sought has not yet been given.
At the same conference another resolution was adopted as follows:
“That this Conference re-affirms its pledge of nationalization of industry, but, when nationalized, to come under joint control with adequate representation of the workers on the boards.”
The mover of it thought the previous resolution might include co-partnership, and to that he objected. In co-partnership, he said, “the workers interested became as great aristocrats as the ordinary employer. Every industry ought to be nationalized and have adequate representation under joint control.”
Labour’s Report to the Industrial Conference, 1919
In a memorandum by the Right Hon. A. Henderson, Chairman of the Trades Union representatives, which was appended to the Report of the Industrial Conference in 1919 (Parliamentary Paper 1919, Cmd. 501) appointed to inquire into industrial unrest, there occur these statements of Labour policy:
“Control of Industry.