18 items relating to the National Union of Agricultural Workers, from the papers of Labour MP Tom Driberg, including speeches, reports, newspaper cuttings, a letter from the NUAW Secretary, on such subjects as tied cottages, German workers, Bradwell.

Having been expelled from the Communist Party in 1941, Driberg joined the Labour Party in 1945; he would be elected to the National Executive throughout 1949-72 and was chairman of the party in 1957-8. The collection is in fair condition, on lightly-aged paper, with occasional minor rust staining from paperclips. ONE: Autograph Notes by Driberg of 'Bradwell local information'. 12pp., 12mo, on a total of eight leaves of House of Commons notepaper. (Driberg's home Bradwell Lodge, was situated in his Maldon constituency.) A covering leaf reads: 'Bradwell local information & useful <?> & tied cottage information'. There follow four sections in pencil, all headed 'BRADWELL'. The first, on 'Housing', 6pp., 12mo ('A waiting list is not necessarily an accurate reflection of local housing need.'); the second, on 'Electricity', 2pp., 12mo ('Some months ago the Parish Council raised the question of extending the electricity supply to the village'); the third, on 'Buses', 2pp., 12mo ('I am reliably informed that there is likely to be a considerable public outcry in the Dengie Hundred when the Eastern National's summer time-tables come into force early next month.'); the fourth, on 'Sewerage', 2pp., 12mo ('The Air Ministry's sewerage works have been offered to the R.D.C. at a price not disclosed'). TWO: Typed Letter Signed from Alfred C. Dann, General Secretary, National Union of Agricultural Workers, to Driberg. On NUAW letterhead, 13 August 1948. 3pp., 4to. 'The inference we gained from your letter was that you desired steps to be taken to increase the number of German prisoners of war to remain in British agriculture as civilians. [...] Of course, I realise that you may think otherwise, but Brother Driberg, in view of the fact that the first we knew of your question in the House was when we saw Hansard, do you really think we were unfair in dealing with your question?' THREE: Copy of Driberg's typed reply Dann. 15 April 1948. 1p., 4to. ('I think that we agree fundamentally about the subject of our debate; the difference between us is one of emphasis. I naturally only know personally and well the agricultural workers in my own division, and, as I said before, I have not encountered this feeling among them in informal conversation or otherwise.' FOUR. Mimeographed copy of typed 'Speech by Minister to National Union of Agricultural Workers (Biennial Conference) 25 May.' 10pp., 4to. ('[...] you are no longer the Cinderella of the workers in this country. By continuing that example you will ensure that agriculture becomes the greatest, most firmly established and the most efficient industry in Britain'). FIVE. Mimeographed copy of typed paper titled 'The Agricultural Worker - Past, Pesent & Future'. 6pp., folio. SIX. Mimeographed copy of typed NUAW report on 'Rural Houses', dated May 1947. 3pp., folio; and 1p., 4to. With note 'AH/ML'. SEVEN. Mimeographed copy of typed NUAW report titled 'The Tied Cottage', dated March 1948. 8pp., folio; and 1p., 4to. With note 'AH/ML'. Including mimeographed typed 'Appendix A. Extracts from speech and books about Mr Williams' and mimeographed copy of typed 'Appendix B.' Accompanying small slip of typed paper on 'Tied Cottages' states that 'The system comes under the Rent Restrictions and therefore Ministry of Health. It cannot be dealt with in relation to only one industry but would have to be tackled in connection with all, andn over the whole country. Workers appear constantly to forget this.' EIGHT. Mimeographed copy of typed speech, dated July 1947 and titled 'National Union of Agricultural Workers, History of the Union' (4pp., folio). With note 'AH/ML'. NINE to THIRTEEN. Five copies of the magazine 'The Land Worker, Journal of the National Union of Agricultural Workers': vol. 29, nos. 344 to 348, January to May 1948. FOURTEEN to EIGHTEEN. Five cuttings, from different newspapers, all relating to the NUAW annual conference in 1948, including one from The Daily Worker. Headlines read: 'Take All Aliens Off The Land', 'Ban Foreign Workers, Farm Union Urges | 'Draw Wages Whether Work Or Not', 'Farm Workers "Must Have Extra Rations"', 'Farm Men Want More Food' and 'And His Friends Cried "Shame"'.