ABRUPT ENDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 265, 8 November 1935, Page 10

ABRUPT ENDING.

COMMUNISTS HOLD MEETING

HALL LIGHTS TURNED DOWN,

An abrupt ending came to a meeting which was held last evening at the Grey Lynn Library when members of the. Auckland Communist party launched their election campaign. At 10 o'clock the lights in the hall were suddenly turned down. At that moment question time was in full swing.

The chairman said that it would cost another five shillings to continue the meeting. He suggested an adjournment, and moved that a message of congratulation be sent to their friends in Russia. This was declared carried amid a show of enthusiasm.

The hall was only fairly well filled when the meeting commenced, and it was announced that the speakers would bo Messrs. Tom Stanley, Communist candidate for Auckland Central, Mr. H. M. Smith, Communist candidate for Grey Lynn, and Mr. J. Edwards.

Mr. Stanley said the Russians had struggled for peace and bread, just as the workers of Now Zealand were struggling to-day. Russia had abolished the ruling class and sgt up the Soviet Government, and had got rid of all its social and economic evils. There was no unemployment in Russia, and the working day was the shortest in the world.

The speaker said that most people had wrong ideas and delusions about the Communist party. The Labour party was openly going over to the side of the capitalistic class, and was trying to use the present discontent for its own purposes. The whole thing was a political sham fight between the "ins and the outs," and there was no real difference in the policies. The Communists were the only candidates who definitely 3tood for the workers. They had made a gesture of unity to the Labour party, but it had been rejected. The Communists had offered a united front proposal, and had it been accepted were prepared to withdraw all the Communist candidates. One of the great dangers at the moment was Fascism, which was being used by the capitalistic powers to prevent a new system being brought into operation. The candidate said that it might be thought paradoxical that the members of the Communist party had nothing to offer. They had come forward to expose the capitalistic system. They wanted to get rid of capitalism by a proletarian revolution, and they did not seek violence. "Some people," said Mr. Smith, "might think that the Communist party consists of Smith, Jim Edwards and Dick Scliofield, but we are stronger in organisation for the working class than any other party in New Zealand." The chairman of the meeting, Mr. A. McMalion, said that the expenses of the meeting were 17/6. He added that it was a fair blow to the party, and he invited the members of the audience to drop something in the hat at the door when they were going out. "How would they vote in Parliament on a no-confidence motion, seeing that they are up against all parties?" asked an elector in search of information. The reply by Mr. Smith was somewhat involved, but ho made it clear that on a no-confidence vote the Communists would always be for the workers and against capitalism.

HOPES FOR NEW PARTY. The hope that after the election there would be a possibility of the best elements of the House of Representatives forming a solid party, with which he would identify himself, was expressed by Sir Alexander Herdman, Independent candidate for Parnell, at the Presbyterian Church Hall, Kohimarania, last night. VOTE FOR GOVERNMENT. After a quiet meeting a vote of confidence in Mr. T. J. Fleming, National Government candidate for Roskill, was carried at his meeting at the Roskill Public Hall, Three Kings, last night.