COMMUNISTS IN QUEENSLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 140, 25 March 1948, Page 4

COMMUNISTS IN QUEENSLAND

Mr Semple’s Views

CONFIRMATION OBTAINED FROM PREMIER

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 24. Cabled; report® of llie activities of Communists in Queensland supporting his- recent statement on i the industrial situation there, pave been received by the Minister of Works (the Hon. It. Semple) from the Premier of Queensland (Mr E. M. Hanlon). Mr Semple’s statement was challenged by Mr T. Healy, secretary of the Australian Waterside Workers’ Federation, and the statement that “the bash gang” was operating in Queensland was particularly objected to. Mr Semple said today that lie had ’sent the following cable to Mr Hanlon: “It has been denied by the Communist Party of Australia, through the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, that physical -violence occurred during- the Queensland-' strike before the introduction of the anti-pickets law. While in Australia I gathered the impression from the newspapers that following an unfavourable decision to the strikers resulting from the ballot taken by men who were concerned with petrol for the planes, some of the non-sympathisers were’ manhandled) either inside or outside Trades Hall, Brisbane. lam under the impression your anti-picket laws were to protect men who went to Work against violence or threatened violence. I shall be grateful if you will confirm my statement.” The fqllQwing reply wae received: “Before the new. industrial law was introduced a. man named Ross was charged with the indictable offence of assault occasioning, bodily harm upon one Tippet. Tippet is a member of the Storemen and Packers’ Union and the offence occurred in the corridor of the 5 Trades Hall immediately after a. meeting of members of that union, employed by Tippet’s employers. Moreover, before the Act was introduced homes were being visited between midnight and morning and wives of workers terrorised by threats of what would happen to their husbands if the latter returned to work. , Warning to Alderman “Also before the Act was passed a deputation of three well-known Communists waited on a prominent alderMan of the Brisbane City. Council who had advised workers against taking part in the strike. This deputation told, him in,the interests of his owpTiealth to keep out of it. “I would point out that picketing in relation to a lawful strike is still permissible. Under, the new law when/ an industrial,Court has ordered strikers to resume work; any attempt to prevent workers from obeying the- Court order by picketing or other means is unlawful. A copy of the new Act has been posted to you by air mail.”' , ’ “This cable speaks for itself,” said Mr Semple. The facts were that when the Communists succeeded in isolating Queensland, women and children were hungry in many towns there. Mr Hanlon had, telephoned Mr Chifley asking for aircraft and petrol to fly food to hungry people. The Communists endeavoured at once to get men servicing the aeroplanes that had to be refuelled in Queensland to go on strike m sympathy with them. After some pressure a ballot was held and the men decid ed that, notwithstanding intimidation, they would service and refuel the aeroplanes to supply food to hungry people. It was these men’s wives who were terrorised and the men themselves manhandled and threatened. “I think this cabled reply justifies any statement I made on the industrial position in Queensland,” said Mr Semple.