“Appalling Ignorance” of Aust. Unionists of Events in Malaya

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22697, 23 July 1948, Page 5

“Appalling Ignorance” of Aust. Unionists of Events in Malaya

(N.Z.P.A.—Keuter— Copyright.) J (11 a.m.) SINGAPORE, July 22. "The Malayan Government Is not misusing its emergency powers to interfere with the normal functions of the Malayan trade unions,” salil Mr. J. A. Brazier, the trade union adviser in Malaya. “I would be the first one to kick if anyone tried to pull a fast one in this country,” he added. "That is why the British Trade Union Congress sent me out here ” Commenting on the Australian Seamen’s Union’s proposal to ban the export of arms to Malaya, Mr. Brazier said it would not help the Malayan unions but only the people trying to destroy them. “If we are unable to smash this Communist-led movemerit, there will not be any democratic trade unions in this country,” he said. "I wonder what the Australian seamen’s secretary, Mr. E. V. Elliott, would cTo if his union was subjected to intimidation like that practised in Malaya where rne treasuicr is shot or stabbed if he refuses to hand over the money to the Communists. Australian trade union ignorance of what is going on in Malaya is appalling." The arms situation in Malaya is now much better than when the request for assistance was first made to Australia. Practically all planters, police and special constabulary are armed with a weapon of- some sort. The army released to the civil authorities rifles running into five figures and more arms have been flown in from the United States and the United Kingdom.