COMMUNISTIC MENACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19124, 16 September 1925, Page 15

COMMUNISTIC MENACE.

" AUSTRALIA'S EVIL HOUR." O* ________ PRIME MINISTER HITS OUT. COMBATING THE EXTREMISTS. THE POWER' OF DEPORTATION. " A very critical hour in our national history," is how the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, in a speech at Dandenong, Victoria, described the position of affairs—political and other—in Australia to-day. Mr. Bruce strongly attacked Communism, and blamed responsible trades unionists for not " disciplining " extremists. He said the deportation power recently taken was absolutely necessary for the protection of the people of Australia. He was prepared to be judged by the people upon it, and, if necessary, would not hesitate to ask them for a mandate for further action. Mr. Lang's refusal to co-operate with the Commonwealth in enforcing the Federal law, Mr. Bruce said, raised a constitutional point of the gravest importance. Mr. Bruce said ho spoke in the principal centre of his electorate because he felt there were some things it was essential the Prime Minister should say to the people of Australia, at what he believed was a very critical hour in our national history. " Never before have I felt a greater sense of responsibility than I do at this moment," said Mr. Bruce, " because I recognise that the problems with which we ars faced are so vital to Australia that any Prime Minister who attempted to play upon the passions of the people with regard to them to his own personal or political advantage would be recreant to his duty, and would be betraying the great trust that the people have placed in him. " Unhappily, there *ro in our midst those who would have us accept the pernicious doctrines of Communism; and would foist upon us the same oligarchic form of government which has brought ruin and disaster upon Russia and her unfortunate peopls. These things we will not have in Australia; they are repugnant to our national ideals and our national sentiments. I

" White-anting the Movement."

" Wherever the workers are organised they white-ant the movement, and obtain control over tho whole organisation, using such control for the purpose of causing unrest, upheavals and strikes, so that the consequent misery and suffering may prepare the' way for the social revolution which is their goal. "Unfortunately, in Australia wo have not escaped them. There are men in our midst —leaders of labour —who not only believe in the hideous doctrines of Bolshevism, but glory in expounding them. Recently Mr. Garden, who to-day is the secretary of the Sydney Trades and Labour Council, went to Moscow to a conference of the Third International, and his own description to that body of how the work is being carried on in Australia is the best indication I can give you of the methods which are adopted. Mr. Garden's statement at Moscow was as follows: — i

" ' Although the Australia Communist Party is a small party, I believe it has found the keynote to organisation, so far as the Anglo-Saxon movement is concerned. The Communist Party in Australia has a membership of just close on 1000, and yet it is able to direct close on 400,000 workers—that is, including 237,000 in tho State of 'New South Wales—t.ll organised workers. It also directs 110,000 organised workers in Brisbane, Queensland. . . . The Labour Council of New South Wales constitutes 120 unions. Yet the Communist Party has full control of the executive. Out of the 12 members of the executive, 11 are members of the Communist Party, and they direct these 120 unions and the policy of each union.' "

Repugnant Doctrines.

" In this country there is no real support for tho doctrines for which these men stand. Their doctrines are repugnant to us. The bulk of our people, including an overwhelming majority of trade-unionists, are totally opposed to them. And yet it is through trade-unions that these men are working in order to attain their nefarious ends. . "For many weary months I have waited, under almost intolerable • provocation, for responsible trade-unionism .to take action to discipline these extremists. I have seen the whole sea-transport system of this country hold up by these men, with dislocation of all our industries, followed by unemployment and .unmerited sufferings bv tens of thousands of men, women, and children. I have seen trade-unionism dragged at the chariot wheels o:E these men, and its leaders subservient to tho whims and caprices of these self-appointed autocrats.

" When I saw these extremists supporting a section of the British Seamen's Union ,in revolt against their own leaders, I thought the time had come when the leaders of, trade-unionism in Australia must take action to prevent the betrayal of one of the most sacred principles cf unionism. I 'lnvited action of this character. When I found that there was no response, I came to the conclusion that the time had arrived when the Government must take action to protect the people of Australia, and, above all, to protect trade-unionism from betrayal by :its own leaders. Use of Necessary Powers. " As to the action which I took, that action was only forced upon me because the leaders of Labour in Australia to-day have not the courage to protect it against those who are determinedly setting themselves to betray it. I say that tho power taken under the recently passed Act is absolutely necessary for the protection of the people of Australia, and I am prepared to be judged by the people upon it " As the head of the Government, I give you my assurance that the powers which we have taken are absolutely necessary to protect the people of Australia; that they will only, be used against those who are deliberately attempting to destroy our Industrial and national prosperity; and that, they will never be used against any trade-union leader who is legitimately and constitutionally endeavouring to promote the interests of those whom he represents. " We believe in trade-unionism in Australia, because it is one of those forms of organisation which go to make up the whole of our social system. By tho supineness of its 'eaders it is, however, being used to-day by extremists for the purpose of defying Governments, and dictating to them. " In our Constitution, Parliaments composed of duly elected representatives cf the people are supreme, and dominance by any outside body cannot be tolerated. This is the great issue which faces the people of Australia to-day, and it iis vital that everyone of them should understand it. " I believe the people are prepared to support me in what I have done, and I will not hesitate at any time to appeal to them for the endorsement of my a.ctions, and, should the necessity arise, to ask them for a mandate to fcske such further action as is essential in order to protect the happiness and prosperity of Australia, and to ensure the peace, order, and good governemnt of this Comonwealtli."