Darwin’s “ Tea Party.”

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1921, Page 4

Darwin’s “ Tea Party.”

RESIDENTS PRICKER GAOL TO TAXES. SYDNEY, June 7. The Bolshevistic community of Darwin has practically started out on a campaign against the Commonwealth Government. The people there describe themselves as martyre, and arc calling upon ou> faithful throughout Australia to join forces with them against ruthless bureaucracy. There are only some two or three thousand white persons all told in the Northern Territory, and they are governed as a “Federal Territory”—that s. by a Government Department. The district Las no representative in Parliamcnl. This is not because, the Government wants to deprive anyone of Parliamentary representation, hut because there are not enough people there to make tho election of a special representative worth while. However, the Darwin “reds” have chewed hard on this representation question, and have filially decided that, as they are not represented in Parliament, they ought to pay no taxes, and all the the more extreme of them have handed together to resist the tax-collector. This decision was reached months ago. If the Government mills grind slowly, they grind eventually, and the stage lias now been reached where three men, refusing to pay taxes or respond to the judgment of tho Courts, have been committed to gaol for 28 days. The same day as the three were to gaol, the Administrator of the Territory gave a garden party—or “tea party,” as it is being called by those who recall an incident in Boston 150 years ago—in honour of Mr Poynton, the Federal Minister who is now in the Territory. Those going to the party were handed copies of a blackbordered circular as follows: — “Black Thursday. History again re-

peats itself. IVfen and women prefer sacrifice to dishonour. Can you sit and sip tea when men are being consigned to a capitalistic hell for defending your birthright. While you sip and smile, just remember you are slaves. Hang vour heads in shame, nr he men—full citizens and Australian.”

Large posters have been put up in the town : “Liberate those men whose only crime was defending your birthright.” ’’Chains and slavery nevei made a nation.”

Meanwhile, a wild message has been sent out to the comrades in Australia : “Three residents sentenced. Hundreds will follow. God knows what will happen. The stigma is on the Labour Party as well as on the Government. Remember how America was lost, and the possibilities of repetition. We expect every democrat to go to the extreme in defending Australia’s birthright.” The matter may receive some attention in the Federal House, hut the Government is not likely to weaken in its action.