Vicious Assault By Basher Gang.

Northern Advocate, 4 August 1949, Page 5

Vicious Assault By Basher Gang.

SYDNEY, Thu. (11.30 a.m.).—A basher gang last night assaulted five members of the Australian Labour group of the Federated Ironworkers’ Association ' as they entered the ironworkers’ building in George Street to attend a meeting. At least a dozen thugs caught the men as they were about to climb the staircase to the second floor. After the meeting another bashing occurred when two’ men in a car followed an ironworker from the hall and attacked him.' The incident shows the serious nature of the split in the Ironworkers’ Association concerning Communist domination and the attitude of certain officials over the withdrawal of funds from the bank, allegedly to assist the coal strikers.

The victims included Mr L. Short, endorsed Labour Party candidate for the national secretaryship of the association, who is to oppose the Communist, Mr E. Thornton, in the December election. One man was attacked first and was knocked to the floor, punched and kicked. When others entered the building they were set upon. "The men are almost certainly not ironworkers,” said Mr Short, who was the most seriously injured, suffering severe cuts about the face and head. “I feel certain they were Communist bashers, brought in from outside, because I could recognise nearly every ironworker. “We expect the Communists to use every method of intimidation now that they have lost the Newcastle branch, and Sydney is slipping away from them.”

that scouts had been posted by the gang, which had ample warning of their approach. When the police visited the meeting of the Sydney branch of the Ironwork-_ ers’ Association on the second floon, the doorkeeper demanded tickets. The police had to leave, because they were on private property. The assaulted men were unable to attend the meeting. The Sydney branch secretary (Mr K. McKeon) opened the proceedings by saying that ironworkers had claimed that they had been assaulted, but that what happened outside the meeting did not concern it. He moved that Mr Short be called before the national council, so that his expulsion from the union could be considered. ‘ This motion, which was supported by all Communist delegates, was carried. A sixth assault, which occurred after the meeting, is believed to be a reprisal by anti-Communists.

A squad of police called to the building was handicapped by the fact