had to overcome attempts by NAG lobbyers to obstruct them physically from handing out leaflets at the conference. Only threats of resignation by members of NAG who were delegates to the conference prevented the rank and file of the union from being regaled with continuous chanting of sellout' by the lobbyers, who had no leaflet of their own.
tion where the right wing have got Save Your Services Campaign, launhas been run down to nothing. Rallies organised in the regions have been cancelled arbitrarily and without explanation. The offical policy of the union in relation to frozen posts and the health service has been watered down or simply not implemented The necessity for unity of the greatest number of militants in the union around socialist policies is the best pre-condition for making sure that next year is not another wasted one for NALGO militants.
STEVE POTTER A campaign inside the Labour Party for women's abortion rights could be launched this week from a fringe meeting organised by the Socialist Medical Association at the Labour Party Women's Conference.
Such a campaign is urgently needed as the time approaches for the report of the anti-abortion rump of the Parliamentary Select Committee (expected near the end of July), which is likely to make new restrictive proposals. In line with the changing tactics of the anti-abortionists, it is clear that these forthcoming restrictions will be veiled in claims that measures are needed to tidy up' the 1967 Act 'in the interests of women' The anti-abortionists, including such notables as Leo Abse MP, have suddently decided - in light of their success in pushing through restrictions last year with little political price to pay - that they are the best 'defend ers' of the 1967 Act. But hopefully lessons have been learned from past experience, when the women MPs on the Select Committee who claimed to support the National Abortion Campaign succumbed to these tactics and signed their names to what they considered to be "minor' restrictions.
Tribunal When the National Abortion Campaign vigorously protested against any compromise, they hurriedly began collecting the needed 100 signatures to re-open the debate in Parliament. These signatures have been collected but there is little hope that the Government will give any time to re-consider these 'minor' restrictions - which have in practice been major infringements on the right of women to abortion The National Abortion Campaign has put out a call for intensive local campaigns to collect evidence on abornon tor presentation al a National Tribunal in December. Its success will depend to an important extent on the ability to begin to involve the broadest possible forces, such as those inside the Labour This will be the best way to meet both the undoubtedly restrict ive report we can expect from the Select Committee and the possibility of a further restrictive Private Member's Bill in the autumn.
Dodie Weppler