Scotsman Archive: TA recruiting: trade unions boycott 10 February, 1949

NEARLY thirty senior officers of the three Services and members of Territorial and Auxiliary Forces' Association who were called to a meeting in Edinburgh City Chambers last night to discuss with leaders of the Trade Union movement their attitude to Territorial Army recruitment, waited in vain for the Trade Union representatives to appear.

The boycott of the meeting was attributed by Lord Provost Andrew Murray to an article by Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur H C Hope, convener of the TA Recruiting Committee, which appeared in The Scotsman on 2 February, blaming "the rising tide of Socialism and Socialistic theories and plans" for killing the volunteer spirit.

Some weeks ago Lt-Col Hope addressed a meeting of Edinburgh Trades and Labour Council, stressing the need for recruits in the TA and appealing for the support of union branches. After the speaker had gone through a "sticky" question time, the Council passed a resolution not to support the recruiting campaign.

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