COMMUNISM IN QUEENSLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25446, 18 March 1948, Page 3

COMMUNISM IN QUEENSLAND

DESCRIPTION BY MR r SEMPLE «ALL-OUT BID” FOR VICTORY -,,) WELLINGTON, March 17. ' is high time that we in this rttle country took heed of the menace **/ Communism; these people have a SgSophy foreign to the average New fLalander; it stands not for co-opera-fM*but for embarrassment, obstructin’ and destruction,” said the MinSj of Works (Mr R. Semple) to-day. Mr Semple said he had seen at first Sad in Australia the sufferings of a nation where Communists gained a dranglehold through the unions of asne of the key industries and essential services. , . . “In Queensland to-day women and jjildren are bordering on starvation for no other reason than that the Communists have used a section of worths to test their strength against the Government.” he said. "They attempted it and failed in Victoria and then chose Queensland, where they believed they were more likely to succeed because a Labour Government KS3 in office. The Queensland Premier has taken up the challenge and a light is going on between the forces of disruption and a democratic government. If the Government should lose, then God help Queensland and the rest of Australia, because the Communists will not rest until they gain complete control.” Mr Semple said a ‘ ‘bash gang” was jo operation in Queensland. “They had not reached the stage where they can eliminate their enemies by guns, hut the right of the freedom, of speech has gone at meetings called in support of the strikers. Drastic laws have had to be passed by the Queensland Government to give protection to those who work and prevent Communists’ molesting workers. Every method bar shooting is being used to Intimidate the unsympathetic, and it is clear that the Communists are making an all-out bid for victory,’’

Appeal to Unionists More than 50 years’ active participation in trade unionism had convinced him that the vast majority of trade unionists were conscientious citizens who wanted nothing better than to be allowed to get on with their job, said Mr Semple. “They don’t want to help wreck their country. I appeal to them to take a livelier interest in their union affairs to prevent file Communistic element’s securing the key positions. Before it Is too late workers should awaken to the realisation that Communists are their enemies not their friends.

“I and thousands of others dedicated our lives to fighting to bring about the decent conditions existing today. I and others have been persecuted and victimised in days gone by for the working class. To-day I am branded by these Communists as a traitor or capitalist Quisling, but I would be a coward if I were to sit idly by and see what has been achieved for the working class destroyed by the agents of disruption and anarchy.”