RISE TO POWER

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23216, 1 June 1945, Page 5

RISE TO POWER

Australian Communists “Most Disturbing Feature” By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (Rec. 8.45 p.m.) CANBERRA. May 31. The rise to power of the Australian Communists was described by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr B. G. Menzies) in the House of Representatives to-day as: “The most disturbing feature of our domestic affairs.” The record of the Australian Communist Party in relation to the war was shameful, he said. The party had been opposed to the war and done everything possible to frustrate the Commonwealth’s war effort until Russia was brought into the conflict by the German

invasion.- Ever since, Mr Menzies declared, the party had sought to ride into public favour on the backs of the Russian soldiers. ,

Mi- Menzies was greeted with derisive heckling, with shouts of “more stonewalling” from the Government benches, when he rose to announce his censure motion attacking the Government under five heads: —

(1) Its failure to deal adequately with industrial unrest.

(2) Its lack of a vigorous stand against the menace of Communist infiltration.

(3) Its denial to Parliament of a proper opportunity of dealing with the issues involved in the security conference at San Francisco.

(4) Its housing deficiencies. (5) The collapse of Its food policy. The last censure motion in the House was on coal late last year. The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr J. B. Chifley) moved the suspension of the standing orders to enable the motion to be proceeded with immediately.

Industrial Troubles Supporting the motion the Leader of the Country Party (Mr A. W. Fadden) said industrial troubles had been so widespread in Australia that every citizen at some time of other had been at the mercy of Industrial outlaws. Mr Chifley declared that some members of the Opposition were doing Australia a great disservice by continually besmirching its prestige. He thought it would be generally admitted that Australia had put up a wonderful war effort. He emphatically denied that the Australian Labour Movement was dominated by Communism or had ever lent its support to Communism. It is expected that the Government will use its substantial majority to end the debate, and the censure motion is thus likely to be disposed of to-night.