Bridges Attacks American Police

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 184, 7 August 1939, Page 7

Bridges Attacks American Police

NATIONWIDE INTEREST IN TRIAL United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.-—Copyright. Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. NEW YORK, Aug. 5. Illustrating the extent of the national interest in tho Australian Harry Bridges’ trial the New York Times published seven columns of the Australian ’s evidence to-day. Tho New York Ilerald-Tribune editorially characterises Bridges* picture of •‘a nation given over to shooting pickets’* as ‘‘a romantic distortion," and adds: ‘‘A survey of the recent industrial warfare discloses the source of most of it in the factional quarrels of labour. It no more represents a class struggle than does the split between the American Federation of Labour and the Committco for Industrial Organisation. ' ’

Concluding his testimony Bridges accused the Government of subsidising the Pacific waterfront employers in the purchase of teargas used against the workers in the great 193 4 waterside strike. "The majority of tho 400 men shot were shot in tho back. Two men who were killed were shot in the back. It was a deliberate plan to murder by the police and we have never forgotten it." Bridges stated that he did not favour abolishing private ownership of small farms and businesses. He added that he owned a small piece of land in Australia himself and declared ho had not joined the Communist Party although he solicited and obtained the party ’s aid in union activities.