THE NEW GUARD.

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 February 1932, Page 4

THE NEW GUARD.

Probably the New Guard, which has been extremely active of late, had more than an inkling of the approach of the Commonwealth’s attack upon Bangism. The more that is learned of the New Guard, the more surprising does it become that the need for such a body could arise anywhere in the British Empire—and the more amazing, also, that Britishers should so thoroughly organise to meet trouble instead of relying upon the traditional British method of “muddling through.” However, first-hand accounts by returned New Zealanders and visiting Australians reveal that the people of Australia are deeply apprehensive of the Communist menace. Communism is no longer a mere bogey in Australia; it is a malignant growth which cannot bo laughed out of existence. Australia has good reason to treat the position seriously, for it is not only a noisy street mob that she has to deal with, but a vicious element which has already obtained a grasp of the reins of power in New South Wales. This State’s present Government has given ample evidence that it will stop at nothing. Financial obligations, racial pride, the welfare of posterity mean nothing to its leaders. Fortunately the Government does not represent a ma jority of the people and those who oppose its doctrines are prepared to go to great lengths-—IOO,OOO New Guardsmen are prepared to go to any lengths— to avoid being sacrificed on the altar of Communism. The Gang Party is. of course, controlled from the Trades Hall. Some extravagant, views

[ arc sometimes put forward in Trades Halls in other places than in New South Wales, but nowhere else do they attract much attention. In Sydney, however, no scheme is too mad for consideration. Not logic, economics, patriotism nor anything else matters there, for all arguments can be beaten down with the retort, “We have the power.” It is difficult to see how a test between the New South Wales Communists and the rest can be avoided in the long run. In view of the Langites’ record up to date it is impossible to imagine that they will capitulate to anything but an adverse vote of the electorate and an election is still two years off. The Commonwealth Government on the one hand and the New Guard on the other are, however, definitely determined to cut short the Hang regime. The Commonwealth is seeking to achieve this aim by constitutional means; the New Guard is not so particular, but it believes it is warranted in any action it takes in the name of liberty, loyalty and selfprotection. The Guard has openly stated that it will not permit Mr Lang to open the Sydney Harbour Bridge next month. If that is not a threat of that “direct action” which has been the special prerogative thus far of Communists, it is difficult to know what it is. Though it may sometimes appear to staid New Zealanders somewhat theatrical in its utterances and actions, the New Guard is a very live force. It has, as it has openly declared, 100,000 members; it is financially supported by some of the biggest business interests in Australia; its members permeate every section of society and of the civil service, including the police. No member wears a uniform nor even a badge, but when Communistic troubles break out in Sydney their members appear from nowhere. The wildest elements of Australian Beds do not treat this organisation with contempt and there are thousands of good Australians who regard it as the country’s greatest bulwark in these troublous times. Though the Guard has no official standing with the Federal Government, its existence is probably a source of great comfort to that administration at the present time. Mr Lyons, Federal Prime Minister, has reason to know that it is an effective machine, for it secured good hearings for him and his supporters during the recent election campaign, after giving definite assurances that “no Communist would be present.”