BACK FROM RUSSIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15225, 30 April 1923, Page 6

BACK FROM RUSSIA.

MR GARDEN'S CHANGED VIEWS. Mr J. S. Garden, who attended thej third international at Moscow as Aus-| tralian representative, arrived at 'Fremahtle recently. I* Since his departure from Australia, •Mr Garden said in an interview, therr had been <an alteration in his mind as far as policy was' concerned, but \vhai' ■the extent of that, alteration was he ■was not prepared *to state until he presented his full report. Referring •to the Commonwealth 'Steamship Line, he said that the pol--ioy of the Labour Party during the past few years had been neutral, bu' :he was quite satisfied now that the whole of the working classes shouk. be behind the line. Regarding a number of boy emigrants aboard, Mr Garden said many of them were not fit to go on the land, and how they passed the authorities on the other side was beyond his I comprehension. From personal observation he was satisfied that the fault did not lie at Australia House. throughout the industrial centres of Great'Britain the position was appalling. The average Australian worker could not, pQssibly have any conception of the actual conditions prevailing amongst the people over there. It was no wonder that they were looking for a way of escape. That was why the great majority had de'eideo to go to a hew country. Therefore, the industrial movement in Ausfralia would have to give more earnest heed to the question of immigration than it had done in the past. Their policy must not be one of negation, but an active policy of participation. It was ;for them to see that the right men were selected for this new country. His mission had been to get a*true idea of the actual conditions in Russia to-day. No matter What was asserted to "the contrary, Russia was decidedly on the upward grade. She had been on a very bad rock, but fio'w, after getting on a firm foundation, was building slowly but surely. The men at the head of affairs were the smartest and ablest men he had met throughout his travels in Germany, France, Belgium and England. There were some very able men in 'England, but as a group. Every Soviet mari knew his business, understanding it from A to Z. Russia's new system of "education had been "a revelation to hiin. He believed that of all Englishspeaking countries the Australian standard was the superior. '] Politically the policy of the industrial movement in the Eastern States would have to underga an alteration, was Mr Garden's final and most surprising statement. The bellicose policy of the past had to change, and the policy woulay have to be one-in line With the conditions of the people of this country. "The lessons I have learned'in Germany, Russia, and Britain," Mr Garden said, '.'have fully convinced me i that a policy can be framed for this country, that every working man can 'go behind arid fully support, with the result that Labour shall be the dominant, factor in every Parliament in ■ the i country." W/k .1,... . , . \. ...'.-.. ..'.