THE MENACE OF BOLSHEVISM.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 16 December 1920, Page 4

THE MENACE OF BOLSHEVISM.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l am not desirous of causing strife in this fair land of ours, neither am I a pessimist, neither would I make a mountain out of a molehill; but I do like to see things as they really are, and when one stops to look at conditions existing all over the world today we must feel convinced that the timehas arrived when we, the people of New Zealand, should commence a definite campaign of -some kind against Bolshevism. At present we seem to live from day to day with a feeling of security, always forgetting that the Bolsheviks are straining • every nerve to spread their accursed doctrine. They miss no opportunities, and none can say they have not achieved much. One has only to read the daily cable- ; grams to' realise what progress they have made. Only a few years ago they were practically unheard of in New Zealand, only occasionally did we see a cablegram referring to the fact that a. few of this class existed in Russia; but to-day, sir, our papers contain numerous cablegrams concerning then and their doings not only in "Russia but, sad to say, all over the.- world! j This small Russian party, as we knew it of six or seven years ago,, has p.oxi become a mighty army, with its 'out posts in every direction. They ha?< spread octopus-like over the whole world; they have never' "lookedback,' as we say, since they started theii campaign. Now, sir, some of you] readers will say: "This thing wil never succeed in New Zealand, w< have no need to fear " Bolshevisn here," and so on; but let me say, sir that I firmly believe they will succeet here if we dp not take the matter h hand very soon. We have already been informed, per medium of th< ' press, that there is a Red army and i . Council of Action in England, thai the Bolsheviks have a headquarters h Sydney, that there was a JBolshevi] demonstration and riot in Brisbam early in November; and we are tol< by those who have seen it that demon strations are held in Sydney on Sun day afternoons at which • pamphlet entitled "An Address from Lenin,' and so.on, are distributed. But t come nearer home wha^ do we find We find that a short time ago w( were told that Bolshevik , literatur< had been distributed in one of ' ouj own railway trains. We also *hay knowledge of the fact that there ar< those in New Zealand who are quit* willing and anxious to form a Counci of Action here, and we also hay* I among us those who openly admit tha the Red flag is as much to them a the. glorious flag of our nation., W have also those holding Bol&hevi] views among us who are continuall; broadcasting those views among thei , workmates whenever, opportunity oc curs. Now, sir, do we require any fui ; ther evidence than this that they ar trying to get a footing here as we! I as in other countries? I think not ; Furthermore, have we any reason t believe that they will attack ever; other country and stay away from us j I think not. Is it not possible tha foreign money is coming into our lam . even to-day, and that agents, are beinj J paid to sow the seeds of discontent ' strife and revolution, as is the case ii England? Is it not possible that wi J have secret committees working in ou ■ midst for the destruction of law an< order at present? Having seen hoy they have worked in other countries we must admit that either of tht above questions can be answered in th( affirmative. We must not lose sigh of the fact that most of the initia work in connection with the spread o: Bolshevism is done per medium ol agents, and not by rowdy meetings o: disloyalists, and that is the reason s< many things pass unnoticed. Now, sir we must next ask ourselves the ques tion, are we doing anything definite to keep New Zealand free from thi< curse? and our answer must be in th< negative. We are allowing them the right and privilege to organise to suii themselves without hindrance, anc they are using it to the full. To me it seems a matter of great importance that we should be up and doing in the matter. We cannot afford to .lose anj time, seeing that certain sections of the community are trying to bring tc a head the One Big Union scheme at ; the present moment. It will be a j serious thing if, when formed, the Bolj shevik element should creep into it. | Is it not plainly our duty to see that this thing is kept free from the world's curse? We have it in our power to-day to do what we choose in the matter., as we have the majority with us; but it is possible that in a short time the boot may be on the other foot. Again, sir, this is the proper time to start a counter-campaign, because if Bolshevism is going to succeed in our land there is more chance of at succeeding while the country is passing through a period of depression such as authorities say we must expect, when we all find it hard to make two ends meet, than at any other time. We have ample evidence at this time that Bolshevism is not the country's friend. To-day, sir, Bolshevism is in the bud in New Zealand, and it will be easier to nip it now than later on when it has grown to a mighty tree. There is no doubting that the Bolsheviks are in real earnest, <ssir; that they intend to win through if they can. They will work on till they defeat us or we defeat them, and it is a certainty we-eannot defeat them unless we fight them. It is no good living in a fool's paradise* it is no good mincing matters. We must look at the facts of the case and deal with them, for by putting the matter off day by day we are only helping them and hindering ourselves. We must i educate the people of this country on [ anti-Bolshevik lines without delay if j we would stay the onslaught of this r*nemy of civilisation. How shall we fight them? will be the next question

asked. Well, I should say that tho most effective way to fight them is with weapons of their own choosing, S^VT^ 1"8 committees within unions, by the press by platform education, and many other ways. By proper organisation we in the near future jwmid be in.a position in a short time C? mpel + - them to cease folding ances 8!'- ""^ ***** "trances, and acting m any way detrimental to the country's welfare, but tf th/(W T? lOrf - We wiU P^ably find f?£ Zl 81l Vmor\™ accomplished h n ', and, thls would make the fight aider unless- we were sure that the big union was on our side. To me sir it seems that this is one of the cases where delay is dangerous. In £S elusion, let me say that' Bolshevism is not the friend of either the worker employer or capitalist, and there is abundant evidence to prove this statement, feo therefore whatever class we torm a part of we should make it our duty to clean New Zealand of its | greatest enemy at the present timeBolshevism Trusting abler pens than mine will take this matter up for the country's sake, and thanking you, sir for your valuable space.—l am etc

Dec: 15. CHAS- H- BROTJGH-