THE NEW GUARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21643, 13 May 1932, Page 7

THE NEW GUARD

RECENT ALLEGATIONS COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT’S ACTIVITIES (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph-—Copyright.) CANBERRA, May 12. (Received May 12, at 8.50 p.m.) In the House of Representatives the Prime Minister (Mr Lyons) announced that a Federal Royal Commission would be appointed without delay to investigate allegations that members of the Defence Department were associated with the New Guard, and also to inquire into the charges made in the New South Wales Assembly that the assault on Mr Garden was a “ political frame up.” Mr Lyons made the announcement on a motion for an adjournment moved by Mr Beasley, who complained of New Guard activities in the Defence Department, its object being to overthrow constitutional Government. Mr Lyons described Mr Beasley’s speech as propaganda to help Mr Lang. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth would not be associated with any organisation which was unlawful or illegal. He emphasised that it had not been shown that the New Guard was illegal. He had the assurance of the secretary of the Defence Department that it was in no way associated with the New Guard. The aims and activities of the New Guard in Sydney was explained to a meeting of the organisations held at Hornsby, 21 miles north of the New South Wales capital, on April 28. “It is very unlikely that we are going to get through the next two or three weeks without some form of trouble, which may even reach the limits of civil strife,” said Mr Markell, K.C., in an address to the meeting. “ Hangers-on of Communism do not care whether they plunge us into civil war; whether they kill thousands of their fellow-beings.”

There were thousands of men of that ilk who would stop at nothing to bring the people into conflict, continued Mr Markell. He referred to the recent riots in Auckland, and said similar trouble might be expected in Sydney on such a scale as to necessitate the concentration of the whole police force in the city. It would mean that the suburbs would be temporarily without police protection, and that was ./here the New Guard came in.

Mr Markell said there was a party controlling the State to-day which did not care what happened so long as its own selfish aims were attained.

Colonel Eric Campbell intimated that Mr Lang had prepared, through the Government printer, 25,000 enrolment cards for special constables, and that in another Government department a similar number of badges was ready for issue. The special constables would all act at , the call of the Premier.

Referring to the activities of the various organisations under the control of the Lang administration at a meeting of the’ New Guard in Randwick Town Hall, Mr Foggan said: “Basher gangs have been organised to cause riots in the more well-to-do suburbs of Sydney. Last Friday night the suburbs from Lidcombe to Strathfield were chosen, and the idea was to smash and loot shops. The raid did not occur, because the leader is now in hospital. I can assure you he is there, because 1 visited him to see.how he was getting along. “Furthermore, I was privately informed that if I were to visit a certain place in the Lidcombe district on Saturday afternoon I would see 300 men being drilled in military exercises. I went to the place and saw about 80 men. Later, at 8 o’clock, I saw fully 300 men being drilled. They were not New Guardsmen. Who were they?” ATTACK ON MR GARDEN MR LANG AUTHORISES INQUIRY. SYDNEY, May 12. (Received May 13, at 0.40 a.m.) . Mr Lang announced to-night that he had appointed Mr Laidlaw, S.M., to inquire into Mr Weaver’s allegations in the Assembly yesterday of a conspiracy involving the police in the Garden assault affair. The police have asked for an inquiry, DISCLOSURES BY POLICE PROSECUTIONS IN VIEW SYDNEY, May 12. The police disclosed the nature of scores of documents seized at the New Guard and other city offices. Some gave details of secret military establishments and depots where arms and ammunition were stored, plans of railway systems, and Berrima Gaol, also many reports of the Premier’s movements at different dates earlier in the year. The police are now gathering evidence against persons implicated in the reports with a view to prosecution.