Workers Of Queensland Are Disillusioned, Watching The Communist Face-Saving Moves

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 March 1948, Page 5

Workers Of Queensland Are Disillusioned, Watching The Communist Face-Saving Moves

(From C. R. Mentiplay, Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent) Received 6 p.m. SYDNEY. March 29 As the Queensland railway strike struggles on through its ninth week it becomes increasingly apparent that what began as a small grievance, easily remedied by </,urt action, is being sustained as a major issue to save the face of the Communist Party. It is obvious that the strike, which could not succeed when it cut off all rail transport in Queensland and threatened to promote a general stoppage throughout Australia, has no chanee whatever now that 500 trains are running daily and many unions are withdrawing their support. This week the Hanlon Government, assured of the support of all moderates, is preparing further telling blows against the Communists, while striking unionists, dejected, divided and impoverished, can see no easy way out of the fruitless conflict.

A series of defeats within the past week have pointed the way to quick settlement by the Arbitration Court, which has always held out a promise of immediate action. The Queensland miners, after refusing to consider more drastic action m support of the railwaymen, have returned to work. Brisbane postal Workers refused all support. Dockers and ironworkers in Newcastle failed to heed the appeal ot fellow unionists in Queensland. Members of the Australian Society of Railway Workers at Lithgow censured their president for supporting the recent sympathy strike, and members of the Building Workers’ Industrial Union protested against the strike levy. Scorning any efforts at mediation, Communist strike leaders have pushed on to what must be considered their crowning folly. Summonsed on a charge of contempt of the Industi.al Court by ordering the destruction ot ballot papers E. J. Rowe, a wellknown Communist, chose to seek i flight rather than stand trial. Party apologists say that the Communists prefer to fight with their leaders out ci gaol, and that Rowe will surrender himself when the time is ripe, but Rowe's escapade has left a nasty taste in the mouths of some of his fellows. It is evident enough that though Communist leaders in Brisbane have been hauled before the court several times none is as yet in prison. They have been reflianded or fined small sums, and permitted to carry on their work. In sentencing Rowe in his absence, the Judge said that had he appeared Rowe would certainly nave been granted time in which to prepare his case. The most disillusion =ti, however, are the workers, who heard Rowe announce that he would take full responsibility for his action in destroying the papers, and whc, on a previous occasion, were present when he urged them to follow him in the illegal procession “even if it means gaol for all of us.”