The people must pay

THE WILBERFORCE inquiry's pay award to the miners will have to be paid for by the people, through increased prices and taxes. This was stressed by Mrs Margaret Thatcher, MP for Finchley and Friern Barnet, when she spoke at her Conservative Association's annual meeting.

Mrs Thatcher said: “Strikes of this kind are not against the Government. The reality is that they are strikes against the people. And it is the people who have to pay.”

Mrs Thatcher, who is Secretary of State for Education, said there were several aspects of the strike which had not been made clear.

She pointed out that the figures published as a miner's net earnings were taken after “a range of deductions,” which could include tax and rent, items which most people would think of as normal commitments.

She added: “You can't have Press and public saying you must fight inflation and at the same time saying you must give way on every wage award. The two just don't match up.”

CLAUSES

Another factor that had not received sufficient attention was that the Electricity Generating Board were using coal instead of cheaper oil to help the miners.

Mrs Thatcher said certain clauses of the Industrial Relations Act were now law, and added: “As far as major strikes are concerned, I think we are through the worst.

“If we ever face a similar situation again, the law on picketing, for example, will be quite different.”

Mrs Thatcher went on to condemn those who used violence in difficult situations to overthrow a democratic system. Later, she described as “total and utter rubbish” a story in a national newspaper about a split in the Cabinet.

Before she left the meeting to return to the House of Commons, Mrs Thatcher thanked Finchley people for their support and for the letters of loyalty she had received. She had had letters of encouragement from all over the country.

“There are a tremendous number of people who are quietly with us,” she said.

THANKED

Councillor Jimmy Sapsted thanked Mrs Thatcher on behalf of the association, saying: “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the wonderful way you carry out your duties as a Minister and as a Member of Parliament.”

Councillor Sapsted also gave special thanks to the constituency agent, Mr Roy Langstone, and to Mr John Drinkwater, who retired after 12 years as treasurer.

Mr Henry Oppenheim was elected president, and Mr Denis Thatcher, Mr A. Baines and Mr Alec Miller were elected vice-presidents.

Councillor Sapsted was re-elected as chairman of the association, and Councillor Mrs Betty Gibson was re-elected as deputy chairman. Councillor John Tiplady was also re-elected as vice-chairman, and Mr Michael Stern was chosen as the new treasurer. [end p1]

(2) Barnet Press, 17 March 1972:

No cabinet split, says MP

At the annual meeting of Finchley Division Conservative Association, at which an address was given by Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Secretary of State for Education and MP for Finchley, the chairman. Cr. N. J. Sapsted, said it was gratifying to be able to report that membership is increasing. He thanked officers and members for their support during the year.

In her address Mrs. Thatcher reviewed international and home affairs and stressed that there is no split in the Government as had been reported. “Never has a Cabinet been more united,” she said. “Never has a team at the top worked better together.”

MODERATES

There are, she added, a tremendous number of people in the country, the moderate people, who are with the Government in what they are trying to do. The others are very vociferous and they make the headlines.

Officers elected were—President, Mr. Henry M. Oppenheim; vice-presidents, Mr. A. N. H. Baines, Mr. Denis Thatcher, Mr. A. C. D. Miller; chairman, Cr. N. J. Sapsted; deputy chairman, Cr. Mrs. Betty Gibson; vice-chairman, Cr. J. C. Tiplady; treasurer, Mr. M. Stern.