“RED” ACTIVITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 457, 19 May 1932, Page 5

“RED” ACTIVITIES.

Police Revelations in Melbourne. “ SUBURBS ORGANISED." (Special to the “ Star.”) MELBOURNE, May 6. Revelations that an attempt b) Communists to interfere with the Vice Regal party at the opening of Parlia ment on April 6 was feared by th< police, and the statement that Com munist organisation in Melbourne “ i far more serious than people think, were made before Mr A. A. Kelly, wh< has been appointed a board of inquir; to investigate charges against th police of undue violence in a disturt ance in the city on that day. As a precaution, it was stated by th police, the route of the Vice-Rega party through the city was changed a the last minute. Mr Norman O’Brvai (on behalf of the Police Association asked Sergeant J. R. Birch (who ha been detailed to inquire into Commur istic activities) to give his opinion c the general rituation as a result of th economic crisis. “ It is much more serious than peopl think,” replied Sergeant Birch. “ Ever suburb of Melbourne has a Worker Defence Corps organised by the Con: munists. Each corps is composed o four units of nine men, and is orgar ised to prevent demonstrations bein; broken up by the police. Interference With Vice-Regal Party. “ I was told before the big unem ployed procession took place on Apri G that the Communist party was goinj to try and lead a demonstration ti Parliament House at the time of th« opening of Parliament ceremony,” sai< Sergeant Birch. “We also had auth entic information that the Vice-Rega party would be interfered with.” Cross-examined by Mr A. M. Frasei (appearing for six men allegedly in jured in the clash), Sergeant Birch saic that the possibility of the men wit! whom he clashed interfering with the Vice-Regal partv Ns mind wher he stopped their progress. |t| Plain-clothes Norman Aller Wilson, a member of Sergeant Birch’s %

squad, said that he recognised Communists in the procession which he helped to stop. He struck two men on the shoulders with his baton. One of the men was aiming a blow at Sergeant Birch. A stone was thrown by someone in the mob. Cross-examined by Mr Fraser, Wilson j said that there were ten or twelve i known Communists from South Melbourne in the procession. Contingents of Ringwood and Box Hill unemployed followed them. He believed that they were either going to Parliament House : or planning to intercept the Vice-Regal party- _____