Communists Subversive

Northern Advocate, 20 May 1949, Page 4

Communists Subversive

CHRISTCHURCH. Fri. (P.A.).-An assurance that when the National Party became the Government it would immediately declare Communism to be a subversive activity and debar Communists from positions in which they could serve their foreign masters was given in a statement today, by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland).

“The challenge of the Communist Party for me to prove that they are a subversive activity in the eyes of the law and the statement of the Minister of Labour (Mr MeLagan)—himself formerly an enthusiastic member of the Communist Party—that ‘it is significant that Communists are putting up candidates against the Labour Party and not against the National Party’ are just clumsy efforts to conceal the real position,” said Mr Holland. GIVEN FREE REIN “Let us put the position quite clearly,” he continued. “Today, under a Labour Socialist Government, Communism is not a subversive activity in the eyes of the law and, so long as the present Government remains in office, Communism is not likely to be declared a subversive activity and will be left free to continue its efforts to overthrow our British form of democratic government so as to replace, it with the Russian form of totalitarian Socialism.”

It was significant, said Mr Holland, that even on the Prime Minister’s staff there was a Communist. “Mr McLagan’s remark is in line with that of the Prime Minister when he declared that (lie Communists and National Party were natural allies,” Mr Holland continued. CUNNING PLAN

“This Is all part of a cunning plan to distract attention from the fact that the objectives of the Socialists and Communiss are the same. They differ only in the method. “That they work together and find money for each other cannot be denied. ‘Communists are admitted to membership of the Labour Party, they attend various conferences and help to determine Labour’s policy. “It is sheer humbug to try to link the Communist Party with the National Party,” concluded Mr Holland. ‘Not e’-sn our most bitter enemy would swallow that.”

Australian Unionists Realise Being Duped

AUCKLAND, Fri. (P.A.).—Australian trade unionists are out to eradicate Communislm within the movement, but still are meeting with tactics revealed in the Sbarpley exposures, said Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P. for Tauranga, on his return by air from Sydney today. “Sensible unionists now realise that they have been dupes of the Reds, and have decided that they have been duped long enough.” Mr Doidge stated that union delegations were flocking to Canberra pressing for Government action. So far the Government had been fairly tolerant toward Communists, and there was nothing to show that legislation would be introduced to curtail their activities.

“It is interesting to note,” Mr Doidge add, “that many of Australia’s top Communists have obtained visas and have left for Moscow, presumably for orders.”

Mr S-iarpley, the man mainly responsible for the awakening of feeling against Australian Communists, was undeterred by alleged libel actions being brought a gasihntimKr lions being brought against him. He had just begun another series of articles in a Sydney newspaper.