ASTOUNDING DISCLOSURES.

Northern Advocate, 14 August 1919, Page 4

ASTOUNDING DISCLOSURES.

DISLOYALISTS AND RETURNED SOLDIERS.

One of tthe most interesting questions discussed at the Soldiers' Congress at -Adelaide sbme days ag-o was the relation of retvirned men to industrial unionism and fheir difficulty in certain places of Fecuring employment. A letter was road from the Charters Towers brt:nch, which stated:—

"In the north we have a •very large number of disloyalists—Bolshevists, I.W.W.'s, Sinn Feiners, etc., and these men are doing their utmost to demolish the Returned SoMiers' Imperial League. Unless some strong aotion is taken they will a good chance of succeeding, as they do not like to see the badge, and in a good many eases refuse to work with men wearing the badge. Those are the kind of men on whose mercy a returned soldier has to depeni for permission to earn a living. It was further stated that the only way out in the opinion of the great majority of members of the branch was for the league to become immediately an indus^ ! al organisation.

In pursuance of *he wish of the Charter Towers branch and to test the feeling of the congress, the following motion was mo"cd: —

That the league be registered as an industrial organisation so as to enable it to appear in the arbitration courts in matters affecMng returned sailors and soldiers, arid that amendments to acts of Parliament be made if necessary.

Mr Blackburn said _n industrial union must consist of men working in a particular industry, but the league comprised members working in a variety of industries, some in none, and many others connected with professions. He believed the only way they could register as an industrial organisation would be to cut out every member not working in one of four or five specified branches of industry.

Mr Corby, M.P. (W.A \ said the constitution of the leagi'e debarred it from taking part in industrial matters, but that was the avowed object 'of the motion, and i;e questioned whether it was In order.

Mr Bowers (S.A.) said men Invalids? back from the war were not able to look after their cwi interests in

the industrial world but those now coming back fit and wel' could be expected to exert a beneficial influence in their various trado organisations.

•Mr Cull (secretary) said they should encourage who were in unions before they went to the war Ito go back to those unions and use |~their influence there, but as a league they should keep right out of infillstrial matters.

The motion was defeated by a majority.