RUSSIA’S GRIP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20952, 15 February 1930, Page 17

RUSSIA’S GRIP.

ON NEW SOUTH WALES LABOUR. AMAZING REVELATIONS. (Fbou Odb Own Coesbspondent.) SYDNEY, February 6. Moderate trade unions in New South Wales amazed at the astounding fact that Russia has secured such a grip of the trade unions in New South Wales that the Red International of Trade Unions at Moscow is in a position to censure the Sydney Trades Council on its industrial policy. The censure, which was fabled at the last meeting of the council, calls upon the Labour Council to carry on its fight against White Australia, to fight against all forms of industrial arbitration, and against all forms of industrial peace.

Mr J. S. Garden, secretary of the Labour Council, is a member of the executive of the Red International, and should he visit Russia in June it will be necessary for him to give a full report of conditions in Australia. .. Mr F. Rods, president of the council, and Mr P. G. Harnett, who have just returned, were both called upon to give reports to the executive, sand both were amazed at the knowledge of Australian conditions possessed by the Soviet Communistic authorities. Recent manifestations that the instructions from Moscow are being carried out were the tactics used by the Labour Council in the timber and coal disputes, and the formation of the Red army on the coalfields and in Sydney, Moscow has a double hold on the policy of the unions through the Red International affiliation of the Labour Council, and the dominance of the Communist International over the headquarters of the Communist Party in Sydney. The activity of the Communist Party has been particularly pronounced since the Sjdncy Central Executive was censured by the parent body in Moscow for failing to harry out the revolutionary programme. Immediately the Central Executive was, reconstructed, and though the internal workings of the Communist Party are kept secret the names of the leaders of the movement have leaked out Most prominent is J. Loughrau.. He is a New Zealander, and is believed to be a tailor by trade. His main activity at present is the management of a bookstall near the Trades Hall, where all revolutionary literature is for kale. Nearly all the executive are obscure members of trades unions, hut this does not prevent them from carrying out their task very effectively. i

A noteworthy feature of the Communistic organisation in Sydney is the foreigners’ department. There are various sections for the foreigners, such as tht Greek section, the Italian section, and so on. The Greek section boasts a membership of about 30. When the foreigners meet they hold discussions in their own language.