COMMUNISM

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 4590, 16 May 1922, Page 2

COMMUNISM

STIRRING UP STRIFE IN N.S.W,

EFFORTS TO CAUSE STRIKES. (By Electric' Caule— Copyrifshv. (Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.} Sydney, May 15. The Hon. Mr Ley, Minister of Justice, dealing with the growth of Communism in the Labour movement, instanced several recent attempts to promote sectional strikes with a view to involving other unions. ' Only when they found the weight of public opinion against them were the attempts abandoned, but they were still being engineered in other directions. He stressed the serious possibility of widespread trouble and urged the workers to assert themselves and not allow themselves to be led like sheep to the slaughter by a group of imported extremists, who could not exist except by causing strife and disunion. THE OTHER. SIDE. Sydney, May 15. On the other hand, the Government is being criticised, both --by members inside its own party and outsiders, for delay in dealing with the increasing unemployed difficulty. The new basic wage adds to the complications, as if the Government gazettes it, it will mean that the salaries of ' public servants will be reduced by 7s weekly. Opponents, particularly Labourites, are utilising these factors to support the contention that the Government policy aims at general reduction of wages and lengthening the hours of labour. This is strenuously refuted by members of Cabinet, who point out that the Government has nothing whatever, to do with the reduction of wages, which is the function of the Courts.

PROOF OF DIRECT ACTIQNISM. (Received May 16, 11.30 a.m.) Sydney, May 16. Mr Garden, secretary of the Communists, replying to the Hon. T.. L. Ley, Minister of Justice, covers much the same ground as in his previous reply. He adds that Mr Ley had shifted his ground, being unable to prove the charges against the Communist Sunday Schools, and now directs the charges against Labour Union leaders, whom lie. accuses of inciting to strikes. Mr Ley, retaliating finally, quoted the utterances of several leadim? unionists, wherein Direct Action is suggested, if the Arbitration Court's decisions were unsatisfactory.