COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN AGAINST LABOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 December 1947, Page 5

COMMUNIST CAMPAIGN AGAINST LABOUR

FURTHER SIGNS IN BRITAIN THE COMING WIGAN BY-ELECTION (N.Z.P.A.—Special—Copyright.) Recd. 6 p.m. London, Dec. 29. It is reported that the Communist Party may nominate either its general secretary (Mr. Harry Pollltt) or Mr. James Hammond, Communist president of the Lancashire brancn of the National Union of Mineworkers, to contest the Wigan by-election, where a vacancy has been created by the recent death of the Labour member, Mr. William Foster. If the Communists do nominate a candidate it will be the first time since the general election in 1945 they have contested a Parliamentary seat. At the general election 12 of 21 Communist candidates lost their deposits, and only two of them, Mr. William Gallacher (West Fife) ana Mr. Philip Piratin (Mile End) were successful. At the recent municipal elections Communists put forward 194 candidates, all ot whom were unsuccessful. Of 85 Communists who have fought Parliamentary elections since 1929, 63 have lost deposits, and until 1945 only one—Mr. Gallacher —succeeded in reaching the House of Commons.

According ot the "Daily Herald" the Communist inclination to intervene at Wigan, which has always been a Labour stronghold, is part of a general campaign against, the Labour Government. Further evidence ot this campaign is to be seen in the struggle now developing over the elections of executive members in four of Britain's most influential trade unions, the Transport and General Workers, the Tailors and Garment Workers, Electrical Trades and Union of Railwaymen. Elections for a new executive are already proceeding in the 13 different areas into which the Transport and General Workers' Union Is divided, and the other three unions mentioned will shortly elect new general secretaries. The Communists are taking a very active part in these inter-union election campaigns, with the object of increasing their representation.