SECRET "PRINTERY"

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1940, Page 19

SECRET "PRINTERY"

A COMMUNIST PLANT

RECESS IN A LONELY CAVE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, September .4,

The chance adventures of thtee boys on a recent Sunday led to the discovery of duplicating plant and a quantity of cyclostyled pamphlets and Communistic literature in a deep cave on a farm about three miles from Papatoetoe. When the owner of the farm was informed of the discovery he communicated with the police. They visited the cave and seized the plant and other material. The contents of the circulars indicated that the plant was used fairly recently, as much of the subject matter referred to increased taxation and the Budget introduced in the House of Representatives in the last week in June.

In addition to the duplicator, which was mounted on rough flooring boards, two boxes were found. One contained a number of publications on Communism.

The existence of a large cave on this farm, which looks over an inlet of the Manukau Harbour, has been known to the and many boys living in the district, but ■ the inner cavity, in which the plant was found, was not widely known, as access to it is by means of a passage and aperture about three feet wide.

In roaming through the. large .cave, which extends for about 40ft underground, the boys noticed a passage which runs back sharply from the main entrance and is partly concealed by projecting rock. They were unable to complete their exploration then, but returned later provided with a storm lamp.

The lads stated that when they found the duplicator a stencil was fixed to it, and on their turning the handle of the machine, a copy of a circular was produced. The floor was strewn with many spoilt copies.

The cave has a diameter of about 12ft and is about sft high in the centre. Movement within the inner radius of the cave can only be made in a stooping posture. Pieces of timber and sacks covered the sodden soil of the floor and two pieces'of asbestos board were used to protect the duplicator and papers from moisture dripping from the roof. The winding access to the cave prevented any natural light from penetrating and candles were employed for illumination.