ACTIVE MEASURES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 5, 5 December 1931, Page 7

ACTIVE MEASURES

COMMUNISTS DEALT WITH. FIGHTING IN SYDNEY. CLASH WITH NEW GUARD. (United Press Association—By ElectricTelegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 5, 10.0 a.m. SYDNEY, Dec. 5. Twice repulsed by a strong police cordon, an angry crowd at Bondi made a third overwhelming rush and swept “Red” speakers from the platformOnly police reinforcements saved the Commlinists from serious injury in the wild melee which followed. An all-in fight occurred at King’s Cross between “Reds” and the New Guard.

AUSTRALIAN CAMPAIGN.

LIVELY COUNTRY SCENES

Lively- Scenes that have occurred in several Neiv South Wales country towns recently have emphasised the determination of the country people to have nothing to do with the Communists who recently embarked on a campaign for the spreading of Red propaganda (states a Sydney correspondent). With unexpected suddenness the situation which had been simmering at Dubbo for months past came to a head the other night when a strong citizens’ committee, which met in a paddock about a mile from the town, decided that the Reds would have to get out. If the police did not send them out the citizens would. The meeting was held at night in a circle of light provided by the headlights of 52 motor cars, and everyone present signed a pledge that Communists would not be permitted to remain within the precincts of the town. The following day a deputation of over 100 strong protested to the Mayor against the permission he had given for the holding of public meetings at which the Reds derided the King, the country, and Christianity. The Mayor said the council was fully sympathetic and would do all it could to rid the town of the menace.

FEELING RUNNING HIGH. Things began, to look very ugly at Dubbo when the extremists element decided to form an unemployed workers’ movement, in order to counteract the citizens’ committee and protect the Commlinists. For a while feeling ran so high that the Mayor decided to prohibit all public meetings. The outlook did not improve when the citizens’ committee sent a deputation to the four Sydney Communists and told them that if they did not leave the town in 48 hours they would be thrown out. Their presence would not be tolerated at any cost, and the police, if they sought to give protection, would be defied. Encouraged by the support they had received from the unemployed, the Communists, in turn, also took up a defiant attitude and said they would remain in Dubbo at their own pleasure. As it seemed quite plain that trouble was brewing, the police were reinforced and Dubbo waited. At the end of the allotted time there was not a Communist left in Dubbo. At Armidale one night a wrathful crowd of 400 made three attempts to. throw Communists into the creek, but on each occasion their prey was rescued by the police. The town seethed with excitement when the citizens assembled near the post office for the meeting which had been arranged by the Communists. At first it seemed as though everything would pass off quietly, but as soon as one man in the crowd announced openly that he was a Communist and then proceeded to boast of the fact the crowd became excited. The stranger was pushed here and there, and in order to save him from the rough handling he would have received he was taken to the police station. THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. A few minutes later a young Scotsman announced that he would not take off his hat while the National Anthem was being sung. He immediately became the centre of a wild attack and he joined his comrade in the lock-up. Another Scotsman said incautiously that he two who had been rescued were “brave fellows.” He was instuntly seized by the crowd and commenced a journey to the creek. He woluld have reached the creek, too, had not the police interevened. The crowd continued to search for Communists, but, needless to add, did not find any more. The men who had been given police protection were quietly placed on a train by the police and sent to another town. In many of the country centres the citizens have formed defence committees and any Reds who show up are certain to receive a warm reception. They should be quick to realise that the country districts of New- South Wales are not for them.