COMMUNIST PARTY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 153, 14 June 1932, Page 8

COMMUNIST PARTY

ACTIVITIES IN N.Z. THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE. CONSTITUTION AND AUTHORITY. Wellington, June 13. Lengthy evidence involving the constitution of the Communist Party and questions as to the authority of members of the central executive or controlling body occupied much of the time of the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when the case (referred to in another column) against Richard Francis Griffin in connection with the publication of the “Red Worker” and “Strike Strategy and Tactics” was continued. Griffin pleaded not guilty to charges of printing and publishing documents which were alleged by the Crown to be seditious.

Evidence for the police was given by Detective Waterson, who said he understood that Griffin was secretary and organiser of the Communist Party. The accused was a Communist delegate from New Zealand to Russia four years ago. Witness gave further evidence as to accused’s connection with the Communist movement, his evidence closing the case for the Crown.

The first witness tor the defence, Alexander Galbraith, said that his official position in the Communist Party was printer and publisher of the “Red Worker.” Ho had never seen Griffin printing or publishing the “Red Worker.” The accused had no connection with the Vanguard Press except in connection with the accounts. “I’M A COMMUNIST.” Counsel for the Crown: Are you the person who is entirely responsible for the “Red Worker”? Witness: I am, and as I am a Communist all I want to see in it is Communist propaganda. Are you a member of the central executive? —Yes. Is the accused? —Yes. What is his official position?—He has none. It is all departmentalised. The chairman is elected at each meeting. Is not Griffin looked upon by Communists in New Zealand as their loader? —No; we have no leader. Who do they look upon as their leader? —The central executive. Mr Page: How many are on the central executive? Witness: It fluctuates from time to time. I suppose that throughout New Zealand there would be about twelve. In Wellington, I mean? —I should say probably eight. I would not be sure Some of them are in gaol. How long has Griffin been a member of the central executive? —For some time. GRIFFIN PROSECUTED. You said he used to be secretary of tho Comunist Party. When did he cease to be that?—lf I remember rightly, at the end of 1930. He was then prosecuted and I was made secretary.

Witness said that he ceased to bo secretary in March 1931. Griffin had not since been secretary.

In evidence the accused denied that he was the printer or publisher of the “Red Worker” or the strike pamphlet ‘Strike Strategy and Tactics.” An account had been opened at the Bank of New Zealand in the name of the Vanguard Press, but that account was later changed into a / general account for the Communist Party. When he signed cheques in connection with the “Red Worker” he did so at the request of Galbraith, and when he took “copy” to the linotype operator it was also at the request of Galbraith. He had not been responsible for the tenancy of the premises since 1930, when he served a term of imprisonment for having seditious literature. The document which he had in his possession and which the Crown alleged was a control scheme was merely “speculative scribble” on his own part and not an official document of the Communist Party.