Govt. Bars Communist Speaker From Workshops

Northern Advocate, 5 June 1948, Page 4

Govt. Bars Communist Speaker From Workshops

WELLINGTON, Sat. (P.A.). —A Government decision prohibiting Mr Claude Jones, Queensland state president of the Communist- Party, fulfilling a union invitation to give a speech inside the Hutt railway workshops, was communicated yesterday afternoon to the Wellington district committee of the Communist Party.

An announcement has been made by the party that it is determined, despite the ban, to see that Mr Jones had an opportunity ,to describe the recent Queensland railway strike to Hutt railway workers, and accordingly Mr Jones would address a meeting outside the workshop gates at noon on Tuesday.

Originally the party wrote to Mr K. Jonassen, secretary of the Woburn branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Workers, saying Mr Jones would like an opportunity to address the union.

The union telephoned the party and said it had decided to allow Mr Jones to speak at lunchtime on Tuesday and suggested application to the Railways Department.

Yesterday the party received a telephone message from the Railways Department saying Mr Jones could not speak inside the workshops. In a statement the party accused the Government of political bias anil said it was prepared to go to “extreme lengths” to prevent information about| the strike and subsequent wage increases becoming known to New Zealand railwaymen and unionists generally.