MINERS’ GOOD SENSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 5

MINERS’ GOOD SENSE

Ending Of Australian Coal

Strike NZPA Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 22. “The rejection by the miners themselves of the plans of their Communist leaders is a welcome sign of good sense among the rank and file of Australian labour.” says the Economist. “It is difficult to say to what extent this is due to the uncompromising stand of the Federal Government or whether it was brought about by the overwhelming opposition of the Australian public as a whole. “The strike was irresponsible from the start, and there was never any justification for throwing several hundred thousand other workers out of work as well. But if a repetition of the strike is to be avoided the Federal Government would do well to overhaul the legislation controlling trade union ballots and so eliminate gerry* mandering, at which the Communists excel. "The link between Communism in Australia and the strategy of worid Communism was emphasised in an article in the Cominform journal of August 1. Written by Mr R. Dixon, chairman of the Australian Communist Party, the article reveals that the strike was deliberately promoted in order to weaken Australian economy at a time of crisis and in order to prevent * preparations for war.’ The article clashes oddly with the humble pie which the five Communist officials of the Miners’ Federation are now eating in an attempt to secure their early release from prison, where they were sent for contempt of court.”