Socialism in Suburbia is a slim pamphlet of just fourteen pages and sadly to day is very difficult to obtain.*
My copy comes courtesy of Jeff Bridson and is an electronic version of his photo stated pages, which look to have been copied many times.
The original was written by Rhys Davies MP, and published in 1930 by the National Co-operative Publishing Society.
It is a fascinating account of the early years of the Labour Party in the old Withington constituency which included Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Withington, and Didsbury.
At the outset Mr. Davies reflected that this was “suburbia in excelsis; [which] has more rich, petty bourgeoisie within its borders than almost any other part of England”. Added to which “there is hardly a trade union branch to be found anywhere; there are no industries of any kind within in its confines; it is a residential area throughout.
But within this vast political province there are hundreds, if not thousands, of trade union officers by the score make their home here. The Woodworkers Society’s head office is right in the heart of things, whilst the Typographical Association of the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers, and the Ironfounders’ Society Headquarters are just on its boundaries”.
The story began with a meeting called by the Clarion newspaper in 1906, requesting that “Socialists of the commercialized districts, come together at a meeting at the White Lion”.
A dozen attended and later meetings were held in the home of Mr. C.W. Hunt who became a Labour representative on the local Board of Guardians, and amongst others who regularly attended were Dr. Tom Garrett and Mrs. Garrett who also sat on Chorlton Union Board as socialist Guardians.
At which point it is worth pointing out that here in Chorlton the first socialist society had been formed in 1894, and while the evidence is fragmentary, they were active throughout that decade and into the next. **
None of which detracts from Socialism in Suburbia which gives a detailed account of those early years including how campaigning was undertaken, the results of municipal and Parliamentary elections, and the difficulty of “converting Withington’s inhabitants to Labour and Socialism”, with Mr. Davies commenting that “The achievement of not losing our £150 deposit in 1929 was regarded as much a victory as winning Ardwick, Clayton Gorton Hulme or Platting would be to Labour adherent’s resident within those constituencies in Cottonopolis”.
Not that he was a stranger to political campaigning.
He was born in 1877 in Wales, began work as a farm servant, before becoming a coal miner for ten years and then a cashier “to a co-operative society in financial difficulties and began at once to organize co-operative employers into a trade union.
After four years in co-operative service, he was offered a post in the central offices at Manchester of the old Amalgamated Union of Co-operative Employees” ***
His record in Manchester in the labour movement is impressive, having been President of the Manchester and Salford Trades Council, as well as the Manchester and Salford Labour Party, was a City Councilor for ten years, and then elected as MP for Westhoughton in 1921, a seat he held till his resignation due to ill health in 1950.
Reading his speeches, I am struck with the range of the issues he embraced, as well as his knowledge, passion and commitment.
He campaigned on worker’s rights, the cotton industry, international peace and the welfare of children as well as calling for a national homeland for Jewish people.
Nor was he afraid of criticizing senior Labour members of the wartime coalition government, as well as voting against the Labour Government in 1947 over the introduction of National Conscription.
But he remained firmly committed to the Labour Party, taking great pride in the Labour landside of 1945, and was seen on the first day of the new Parliament “pushing and chuckling his way to the Chamber, calling to a friend “Heavens above. It might be a Labour party conference’”. ****
All of which brings me back to his book, and his closing comments that “this Suburbia and home of Manchester’s intelligentsia might well be won for Labour”, which was indeed the case in 1987 when Mr. Keith Bradley took the seat from the Conservatives.
Location; Withington, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Didsbury
Pictures; Labour Party poster, 1910, front cover of Socialism in Suburbia, 1930, R.J Davies, date unknown, R.J. Davies,MP, speaking in 1945, and members of Withington CLP, circa 1990s, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*Davies, Rhys, Socialism in Suburbia, 1930
**Beedle, Lawrence, Chorlton’s Socialist History 1996
***The Staffordshire Sentinel, April 14th, 1925
****R.J. Davies, Manchester Guardian, November 3rd, 1954
 |
| Forward The Day Is Breaking, 1910 |
The original was written by Rhys Davies MP, and published in 1930 by the National Co-operative Publishing Society.
It is a fascinating account of the early years of the Labour Party in the old Withington constituency which included Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Withington, and Didsbury.
 |
| Socialism in Suburbia, 1930 |
But within this vast political province there are hundreds, if not thousands, of trade union officers by the score make their home here. The Woodworkers Society’s head office is right in the heart of things, whilst the Typographical Association of the National Union of Distributive and Allied Workers, and the Ironfounders’ Society Headquarters are just on its boundaries”.
The story began with a meeting called by the Clarion newspaper in 1906, requesting that “Socialists of the commercialized districts, come together at a meeting at the White Lion”.
A dozen attended and later meetings were held in the home of Mr. C.W. Hunt who became a Labour representative on the local Board of Guardians, and amongst others who regularly attended were Dr. Tom Garrett and Mrs. Garrett who also sat on Chorlton Union Board as socialist Guardians.
At which point it is worth pointing out that here in Chorlton the first socialist society had been formed in 1894, and while the evidence is fragmentary, they were active throughout that decade and into the next. **
 |
| R.J. Davies, MP, date unknown |
Not that he was a stranger to political campaigning.
He was born in 1877 in Wales, began work as a farm servant, before becoming a coal miner for ten years and then a cashier “to a co-operative society in financial difficulties and began at once to organize co-operative employers into a trade union.
After four years in co-operative service, he was offered a post in the central offices at Manchester of the old Amalgamated Union of Co-operative Employees” ***
 |
| R.J.Davies, speaking, 1945 |
Reading his speeches, I am struck with the range of the issues he embraced, as well as his knowledge, passion and commitment.
He campaigned on worker’s rights, the cotton industry, international peace and the welfare of children as well as calling for a national homeland for Jewish people.
Nor was he afraid of criticizing senior Labour members of the wartime coalition government, as well as voting against the Labour Government in 1947 over the introduction of National Conscription.
But he remained firmly committed to the Labour Party, taking great pride in the Labour landside of 1945, and was seen on the first day of the new Parliament “pushing and chuckling his way to the Chamber, calling to a friend “Heavens above. It might be a Labour party conference’”. ****
 |
| Members of Withington CLP circa 1990s |
Location; Withington, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Didsbury
Pictures; Labour Party poster, 1910, front cover of Socialism in Suburbia, 1930, R.J Davies, date unknown, R.J. Davies,MP, speaking in 1945, and members of Withington CLP, circa 1990s, from the collection of Andrew Simpson
*Davies, Rhys, Socialism in Suburbia, 1930
**Beedle, Lawrence, Chorlton’s Socialist History 1996
***The Staffordshire Sentinel, April 14th, 1925
****R.J. Davies, Manchester Guardian, November 3rd, 1954
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