COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 February 1930, Page 7

COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA

CRISIS IN S. AFRICA. CBy Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) CAPE TOWN. February 13. The Union Assembly appeared not to be impressed by the Minister of Justice in his second reading speech on the Riotous Assemblies Bill, which gives the Minister the power to prohibit public gatherings and to prevent the engendering of hostility as between the Europeans and other sections of the population. The necessity for this Bill, the Minister said, arose out of the Communist leader’s speech in the Supreme Court contending that the doctrines which he espoused and preached were bona fide. The Minister anounced that the Berlin International had despatched a notorious agitator to organise Communism in South Africa, and that since October, 1928, the International had sent funds to South Africa, though the Government had failed to trace the amounts or the method of transmission. An offshoot of the League against Imperialism had sent money to cover the expenses of two delegates to a conference at Frankfurt of the Workers’ Internationale, which was connected with the infamous atheist campaign. It had three known branches in South Africa. He read recent Internationale instructions advocating a general strike of the South African natives, the non-payment of taxes, and an unemployment demonstration march on. February 6. Characterising the recent events as danger signals, the Minister stressed his warning as follows:— “If once the Europeans get out of band, and lynch law is introduced, our lifetime will never see it expunged!” He announced that an. amendment would bo introduced, excluding the European trade unionists from the operation of the Act as far as concerned the advocacy of the Trade Union, movement, and also excluding reputable newspapers from the clause against propaganda. The Opposition and Labour Party are pressing for the recognition of the supremacy of the Courts before referring tlio Bill to a. select committee.