COMMUNISTS AT WORK

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 127, 3 June 1929, Page 8

COMMUNISTS AT WORK

SEEKING INDUSTRIAL TROUBLE

The Welfare League writes:—

For some' time past New Zealand has enjoyed conditions of comparative industrial peace. This does not suit the book of tho Communist Party. Tho followers of Lenin who are resident'in Aew Zealand would much prefer to see the same industrial upheavals here as are taking place in Australia; As such conditons of strife, serious loss and violence do not arise without stiinulous the Communists are prepared to scatter the inflammable material of class hatred and apply the lighted fuse when they deem the time most opportune. At present they are engaged in manufacturing and storing industrial war materials, aud we can be sure this is not with the object of maintaining industrial peace.. "To be forewarned is to be forearmed." For this reason we take every opportunity of exposing the insidious movements of these Eed Revolutionaries. There has come into our possession a copy of a letter recently sent out by the Communist Party With the object of creating what they term. "Militancy" in the key industries of the Dominion. Here is the document.

THE COMMUNIST LETTER. "Comrades,—The brutal attack upon tiie Australian mine workers now proceeding is caused by the efforts of the Australian mine owners to stabilise the industry at the expense of the workers, .this, attack was proceeded by definite indications, such as the collective contract at Balmain, Catamaran, etc., shutting down of mines, short time and speeding up. "New Zealand Comes next" "Already the attack has begun in New Zealand. Sacking of single men —short time—tribute system, etc. Immediate preparation is necessary to resist a general attack. "The trade union department of our I party, therefore, is exerting every ef- | fort to build up miners' militant committees around a programme that will rally the miners to resist attacks and I nght for improvements in their conditions. "In this work we- need your co-opera-tion. Wo are asking you to send in your ideas as to what immediate demands the miners in your district are likely to support.. We shall then issue of miners draft programme for militant Workers, and also a call for ' "Militant Committees. 'These already exist in the freezing workers' industry, and are being created on the waterfront. "In order to facilitate the development of these militant committees, an additional page is to be added to our paper, " 'The workers' Vanguard.' "to discuss the problems of militant workers. "This will cost money, but we anticipate increased sales and subscriptions as a «wUlt) and look t0 *out 0 assist usWrite in your opinion on miners' problems and conditions. Don't worry about mistakes in grammar, the editor will attend to that. Use a pen name for your articles if you wish, but let us know your real name.

"Write to us. ' "Send one letter on general conditions and your ideas of a programme and send another on special issues. "Write to us in some form or other. "Your opinions are needed on wa-res hours, conditions, arbitration, job disputes, union organisation, return system, the tribute system, short time, clause 21, any grievance no matter howsmall. "Write now. "Yours for a Militant Workers' Move* ment, "(Signed) J. EOBEBTSON. "Secretary Trade Union Dept., C.PiN.Z. 12, Knigge avenue, Wellington. '' MASK OF DEFENCE. This appeal is drafted on the usual lines adopted by the Communists everywhere of appearing in a mask of defence when they are engaged in making attack. In Soviet Eussia they profess themselves in favour of universal peace; charge the capitalist nations with war designs to smash Bussia whilst they are actually aiming at world revolution and civil warfare in every country that has not accepted their programme. So in the field of industry here these people allege that the workers are being generally attacked. Then follows their appeal for militancy in all the key industries. Why- are the industries of transport, mining, freezing industry, selected? The reason must be evident to all who think. Serious industrial trouble is always possible. For this reason we give the warning—be vigilant, always on. guard against this indidious foe.