SOME PROBLEMS OF URBAN 

 AND RURAL INDUSTRY. 



AN ACCOUNT OF PROCEEDINGS AT THE CONFERENCE 



OF WORKING-CLASS ASSOCIATIONS HELD IN BRADFORD 



ON MARCH 16th AND 17th, 1917. 



(Notes taken by E. T. Hunt, Oxford.} 



FIRST SESSION. 



The Rt. Hon. C. W. Bowerman, M.P. (Chairman of the Council of 

 Ruskin College), having been detained on important business, one of 

 the other members of the Council Mr. James Bell (Secretary, Oldham 

 Weavers' Association) presided during the Conference. 



In opening the proceedings, Mr. Bell said that the Executive of 

 Ruskin College was composed entirely of representatives of Trade 

 Unions, the Co-operative Societies, and the Club and Institute Union. 

 On their behalf he welcomed the delegates, and said that the Council 

 thought it desirous, even during the war, that something should be 

 done to keep the College in touch with the working-class movement. 

 Some time ago there was a similar conference held in Oxford, and those 

 who had read the small book reporting that conference would recognise 

 that their efforts in Bradford were likely to do good. The Council 

 wanted the workers to have the best possible education they did not 

 want to make them Socialists, or any other " ists." If they became 

 Socialists as a result of education, well and good ; but the main point 

 was to build up a well-educated movement, so that the workers could 

 have a chance of working out their own salvation. 



