REDS IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21037, 23 November 1931, Page 6

REDS IN AUSTRALIA.

BOURKE CITIZENS' ACTION. COMMUNIST " DUCKED." THREE MONTHS IN GAOL. A sequel to the recent organised action at Bourke, New South Wales, against Communists took place in the Bourke Police Court last Monday. James Drinan, the man who was chased from the vicinity of the town across the Darling River and then publicly "ducked," was charged with having assaulted Henry Howard, an elderly man. It was the assault upon Mr. Howard which led to Drinan, who is .regarded, as a prominent Red, being chased. He was sentenced to three

months' imprisonment. Bourke, at the beginning of last week, ■was reported quiet. Some of the local unemployed whom the Communists were endeavouring to" imbue with Soviet propaganda, assured the townsfolk that they were not Reds and that they intended to remain loyal citizens. At a meeting of citizens at Brewarrina an organisation similar to that at Bourke ■was formed. The Bourke committee has also been informed that the citizens of C-obar are preparing to take action against the Communists. Dr. Alcorn, who is leading the Bourke citizens' committee, stated that his organisation was aiming at the'extension of civic consciousness among the better elements in the community. Its work in ousting the Reds was merely the negative side of its and it would watch events with a view to taking action in a positive direction. Statement by Minister. The New South Wales Minister of iWorks, Mr. Davidson, said last Monday, when speaking of happenings at Bourke, that law and order must prevail. He added that he had been in communication with the police and also with the authorities at Bourke: The reports of the trouble regarding the visit of Communists to that town, which was within his own electorate, said the Minister, were grossly exaggerated. The reports in his possession, said Mr. Davidson, showed that Moxon, secretary to the Communists, went to Bourke and. asked for permission to speak in the street. The Mayor, who had for a long time been president of the local branch of the Australian Labour Party, refused to allow him to speak, except in the park. Moxon spoke in the street, despite the fact that the police had urged him to desist. He had been summoned and was fined £5 or 10 days' imprisonment. Moxon decided to serve the term of imprisonment.

According to the correspondence in the Minister's possession bricks were thrown through the window of the Mayor's home at two o'clock in the morning. The citizens, blaming certain people, who they considered were Communists, organised a force and approached the camp where a number of unemployed were camped and gave them three days in which to leave the town. The sergeant of police intervened and the unemployed requested that they should be given a week to leaved The townspeople, however, insisted that they must leave within the three days. It was not known whether any of these unemployed men had thrown the- bricks through the Mayor's window. Tact of the Police. Some days ago, said the Minister, he received a, telegram from the Mayor, as follows: "A.gathering of Bourke citizens, fully representative, and comprising 80 per cent, of your following, demonstrated against Communists, Moxon and followers, last night. The tact of the police saved an ugly situation. If Moxon not removed I think the people will cause further trouble." Mr. Davidson said he replied as follows: — . "In the absence of the Chief Secretary, I have' seen the Under-Secretary to the Chief Secretary. The Chief Commissioner, Mr. Childs, stated that he is watching the situation. Law and order must prevail. Force by any section of the community will not be tolerated." That/ was the attitude of the Government, added Mr. Davidson. It did not matter whether people called themselves Communists,' New Guard or citizen defence societies, they must not take the law in their , own hands and use force.