“NEW GUARD” PLOT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 494, 1 July 1932, Page 5

“NEW GUARD” PLOT.

Dictatorship in Sydney Suggested. DISUNION IN RANKS. (Special to the “Star.”) SYDNEY, June 24. New and startling complications have developed from the appeals by members of the New Guard for a remission of the sentences imposed on them for assaulting Alderman “Jock” Garden. During the hearing of the appeal of one, Scott, Detective Alford confirmed Scott's statement as to a remarkable disclosure which the police had made to Scott while endeavouring to extract information from him. According to Detective Alford, the police have in their possession documents which prove that “ plans had been made by the New Guard to throw armed battalions across the main approaches to Sydney to isolate the city, cut off the power from Bunnerong and White Bay, and take charge of Parliament House and Government Departments and set up a dictatorship.” This disclosure was, of course, most opportune for the purposes of the “ Labour Daily.” and (t described at length on this “ sanguinary plot ” which, according to it, would have meant shedding the blood of perhaps 100,000 innocent citizens. Detective Alford had intimated to the Court that certain members of the New Guard were liable to be prosecuted, and the ” Labour Daily ” now openly charges the Stevens Government with shielding these malefactors, and thus endangering the common weal. It is altogether a grotesque and unpleasant situation, and most people will be glad when the promised Royal Commission starts its work. Questions for Colonel Campbell. Meantime, however, signs of disunion in the ranks of Colonel Campbell's organisation have been manifesting themselves publicly. The June number of the “ New Guard ” contains, among ( other proofs of disaffection, a series of eleven questions which it calls upon the Commander-in-Chief to answer, and all of these questions assert or imply that Coloiyd Campbell has been guilty

of incapacity and has exceeded his rightful powers. These questions were also published in various newspapers, and Colonel Campbell has taken an early opportunity to respond. In '• Liberty,” which now claims to be the authentic official organ of the New Guard, appeared last week an account of a meeting of the organisation at which Colonel Campbell answered some of these charges, but was relieved of the necessity for going through the list by the acclamations of his followers. The convention passed a strong vote of confidence in Colonel Campbell and approval of his use of his authority, and “ the work of the plotters thus achieved nought.” One cannot venture to pronounce an opinion of the merits of this controversy. but it is clear that the New Guard is no longer a united body. It also seems clear to me that some of the members, carried away by their conviction that “ democracy is a failure ” and that the country can be saved only by a dictatorship on Fascist lines, have expressed sympathy for proposals that no one who believes in constitutional government could possibly approve. As for the rest —we must wait till we see the report of the Rdyal Commission.