Communist Leaders Suffer Rebuff In Sharkey Prosecution Case

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 March 1949, Page 5

Communist Leaders Suffer Rebuff In Sharkey Prosecution Case

SYDNEY. Marell 28 (Rec. 7.1.5 I pm).--What is considered one of | Hie greatest industrial rebuffs to; I'oiniiiuiiist leaders in years was suffered today when there was no major stoppage on the three New South Wales coalfields or on Australian wharves except Syd-i ney over the Sharkey prosecn-[ t ion ease. I In Sydney the watersiders I obeyed their Federal executive and walked off all ships for two | hours, but watersiders at Melbourne. Brisbane. Ilobarl and ; Newcastle refused to endorse the;; Protest plan. |i

I The Federal waterside leaders I had given a direction for stop- ; pages in 54 ports, involving 23,i 000 men. The moderate Northern ‘ Miners’ Federation Executive ; countered the Communist suggestion by directing that no uui authorised stoppages .should be ; called on the Sharkey issue. Only i two small mines failed to work for reasons connected with the i Sharkey proseeution. I Some Sydney watersiders held [meetings protesting against the stoppage, and there were angry [scenes when members of the

union told the militants that the stoppage was merely a direction from Marx House. Others told employers that they were stopping because union matters were to be discussed at a mass meeting. Seamen in eight ships in Sydney also I went ashore. The ease in which L. L. Sharkey, general secretary of the Australian Communist Party, is charged on two counts with uttering and publishing seditions I words is continuing before a inagistratc in a. special. Federal I l.'oiirt.