There has been so much crap in same sitting for the candidate to he press about the Inns of Court pass the Exam. Before '64 a student hich has completely ignored the could sit as often as he wished for easons behind the student protest. the Exam. Then came Rule 23 which To study for and to take the Bar announced, "Four times mayest xam, one must join one of the four thou sit, but after that, y're out nus or our three of them very mate". And this rule was applied ich. Not that they teach the student retrospectively without exempting nything. They charge £170 a year those who had arrived before its lus £100 the first year as a deposit existence. hich the student gets back when Yet, given exams, four attempts, nd if he passes the Bar Finals (the even on an all-parts-passed-orailure rate is 70%). It is invested nothing basis would seem to be turing the interval. They also pro- enough. Bat that conclusion neglects ide "Dinners" at 14/- a throw, 12 the crucial issue - the education. f which are obligatory before Rule 23 strips Legal education bare; aking finals. From the £170, they no other education system would enerously pass t50 to the Council feel obliged to have more than two of Legal Education and £15 for attempts. Worse than that, the dodFutorials. These are only once dering Council is only now improvnonthly for those who can get them ing slightly on the education offered class of 15 is defined as a before Rule 23 - and then it was a utorial), and even then the student much easier exam. It must be like nust pay t18 extra. being a work-camp inmate, who is expected to fulfil quotas meant for Ruling over this quaint system is tractors when all that is provided is Council of Elders as it Were a spade which he can barely lift haired by Lord Justice Russell and anyway. omposed of a few "Benchers" from Squashed lectures are the ONLY he Inns. After last May's Exams, student-teacher contact for many when half the papers were lost, an undergraduates. Discrimination exists nnocuous Dean was created, and against coloured students for onsultative Link Committees of two tutorial place though naturally the tudents from each Inn were formed. white Rhodesian I met had a Their composition was overwhelm- tutorial. Of course this wasn't disngly British I a minority in the crimination! "On merit, old boy, on nns moreover. a minority nomi- merit." rated by the Bench and not elected Lastly of the education grievances, y students. are allowed to use the The complaints which finally libraries for TWO HOURS a week, rupted in the sit-in by the 600 period. As libraries are used for the nainly Commonwealth students rest of the time by practising barentred on Rule 23. All parts of the risters, students are in effect subsiar Final must be passed in the dising a profession which could eminently afford to subsidise them. Many others were frightened that What institutions do they have any manifestation of solidarity with through which they can fight? In their fellows could well effect their 1966 there was a Union but that chances of getting into chambers ended when "Mr. Adams did not (unlike them most demonstrators want the meeting to go on". Instead would not be practising in Britain). one union in each Inn was per- might even prevent them "passmitted: Divide and rule at work. No ing" the exam. The marks are not existing institution even recognises published and it seems evident that their student status, let alone gives someone can pass the exam but fail them minimal rights that that status to be called to the Bar because his deserves, e.g. N.U.S. membership elders and betters do not consider far too subversive. him suitable. And so he is forced to Five months ago, the Reform conform to and eventually lapse Committee's grievances were submit- into a code of conduct nothing short ted to Russell and were arrogantly of mediaeval - the barristers themrejected. Consequently both the sit- selves proudly insist their traditions in and its results, however inade- go back 600 years! quately, are a landmark in an The very backwardness and institution as traditional and hier- atrophy of the administration of the archical as the Inns of Court. The Inns and the weakness of student themselves were inex- institutions seems to offer the chance perienced and must be forgiven for of a radical breakthrough in their letting Russell listen to them in his reorganisation; a complete bypassing own office. The so-called "results" of the Bourgeois institutions, epitoof that meeting are that Russell will mised by affiliation to the N.U.S. recommend the abolition of Rule 23 and the setting up of a united to Council. He will ask them to student council with direct control "consider" the formation of over their education. Except for one general student body. He will meet thing, the Students. A few do relate students for negotiations and will their situation with the society outdiscuss the exam system. Lastly, the side. and others are eager to learn— only concrete result - they can meet for they learn nothing in their course in the MacGeagh Hall at any time. but strict Graderind Facts. But the Although the authorities are ob- ma ority are there because they want viously prejudiced against coloured the money, social position and often students (thoush the Inns lap them power which the profession brings up because money they both in Britain and abroad. Any bring quite disregarding the strain significant change in society would on the Educational facilities), smash their dreams. Perhaps I am accuse all the British students of wrong. Perhaps the whole mass of the same thing is to be too simplistic. prospective barristers will rise in inOne girl had been photographed and dignation at this last paragraph. I given her name; she was scared. wish they would. by Valerie Deacon and Keith Veness The fight against the rent-rises on Council houses in London has now entered a new, and perhaps decisive, stage of struggle. In the GLC the figure for tenants withholding the increases has varied between 33,000 (the Council's figure) and 98,000 (our most optimistic one).
When one considers that there are immediately anyway. 220,000 GLC tenants and that those In Brent, certain estates such as on rebates or social security (nearly Kingshaven, Explorers and Alpha40 %) have been advised not to Gorefield have had a seventy-five withhold it by the Tenants' Associa- per cent. response to withholding tion, then these figures must be con- the increase and a writ has been sidered excellent. During these strug- served on the council restraining gles many interesting events have them from raising the rent. The occurred. On the Warwick Estates court case will probably be heard at Maida Vale a possee of housenext month. A mass demonstration wives follow the rent-collector to at the Town Hall in October attracmake sure that he doesn't intimidate ted over 1,000 tenants and the countenants and to ensure 100% sup- cil are well aware that they are sitport. Mrs. Kay McNicholas. the ting on a colvano. Association's Chairman, had a brush In Ealing, a policy of withholding with the police, who accused her of the increases has started on estates "threatening" the rent collector. such as Elm-trees, Yeading Green (Odd of the fuzz to protect a large, and Ravenor Park and more well fed rent collector from a group struggles can be expected here. of housewives while letting him However we heard the best news threaten tenants with eviction!) of all was on 19th November when Now tenants have taken to paying the Smithfield Meat Porters stopped him in sixpences, halfpennies and work and marched to County Hall other small coins so he has to carry protest against the rises. The a load of small change on his march started at 4-00 p.m. from rounds. Smithfield and was joined by the In Hackney the rent collectors Royal Group of Dockers, represenhave quite rightly refused to be tatives of the Central London Bus scapegoats for the council and have Committee, and shopstewards and threatened to strike if they don't get union members from many factories an immediate pay rise. The giant and building sites. At seven in the Trowbridge Estate is the best in evening the tenants joined them at London for withholding the increa- County Hall to return increase ses, with a figure of 98%. forms and eviction notes. The total In Tower Hamlets the local coun- participants were well over the DL10 Jules Henry Special & Psychological Preparation for War DL11 Herbert Marcuse Liberation from the Affluent Society DL12 Paul Sweeney The Future of Capitalism DL 13 & 14 A two record set of the open discussion which included Cooper, Ginsberg, Carmichael & Laing.
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London Tenants enter new phase of struggle