BLOW AT REDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 January 1926, Page 9

BLOW AT REDS.

BY N.S.W. CHIEF SECRETARY

THROW OFF THE APATHY.”

SYDNEY, Dec. 22

A surprise attack upon the Red Moment of the Labour movement was made by the Chief Secretary (Mr Lnzzarini) yesterday. “It only rests with the sane elements of the industrial movement.” he- said, “to take the matter into their own hands, throw off the too manifest apathy that exists, emulate the Miscellaneous Workers’ and Storemen and Packers’ Union, and Air Garden will become the mildest oiv industrial cooing doves, or he will be looking for some other position, where lie will n-ot be able to cause such mischief and misgiving to the Labour movement.” Mr Lazzarini made that statement in the course of a reply to the circular ’etter over the signature of Air J. S. Garden, conveying a resolution of protest against ‘‘the cowardly action -of Air Lazzarini in general, in gaoling a working-class woman for collecting money in the Domain on behalf of the British seamen ” The circular also states that men today are undergoing sentence at Long Bav for selling literature in the Sydney Domain. There is a. further expression of opinion that a Nationalist Alinister or Government would think twice before perpetrating such a dastardly act. “UNTRUE.” “The first statement is maliciously untrue,” said the Alinister. “While the strike referred to was in progress, permission was given, through the police, for the Labor Council to take up a collection in the Domain to support the British seamen. This collection was authorised, and no action was taken against anyone connected with it. “AVith regard to the case against the woman referred to, the first I heard of it was on Saturday morning, when two reputable trade union secretaries handed me a copy of the circular.. “Action cf this kind is taken by the police without reference to the Alinister, and no representation has been made to me, or the Alinister for Justice, in connection with the matter. “LIVING ON THE GAAIE.”

“I wish to state, however, that, while r am entrusted with the administration of the law in this respect, I will not stand for unauthorised collections, which would permit decent, hard-work-ing people to be possibly fleeced by individuals of no standing, who are siin- ’ ‘living on the game.’ “With regard to the second point of attack, the men referred to are members of the I.AV. AAA, and the.police have refused to give permission to this organisation to sel] literature in the Domain. Cabinet saw no good reason to interfere with the action of the police. “In connection with the third statement. it is something one would expect f-r.om, Mr Garden, as the first organiser of the anti-Labour forces o.f this State, and he, naturally, must say something in favour of bis erstwhile friends. “I desire to make it perfectly clear that, if Mr Garden’s quack doctrines and peculiar mentality represent the Labour movement of this country,. I would not touch it with a wel'-disin-fected polo.”