WAR ON RED WRECKERS

Chronicle (Levin), 20 June 1947, Page 5

WAR ON RED WRECKERS

Press Assn.- \ *

Having Definite Effect In Australia

By Telegraph

:Copyright

(Speeial Australian Correspondent.) . Received Thursday, 8.50 p.m, SYDNEY) June IS. ^ A general assault by the Australian Labour Party and the responsihle majority in the trade union • movement on indnstrial lawlessness is plainly indicated by the recent decision of the , New Sbuth Wales branch of the Labour Party. and the disputes committee of the Trades and Labour Council. It has long been suggested that any real move to oust the Comtnunisfs and militant leftists from the control. of importaht sections of the workers must come from^ vvithin the Labour ranks themselves. A few days ago the Labour Ba?rty came under heav^ press fire for its silence on such important issues as the. coal in-dustry,-Pacific defence, trade with Japan and the "tyranny of the trade union despots." The party was frankly accused of fighting for the people 's welfare only at election time and of relapsing into a long sleep' between actions. The trirth of these allegations is difficult to evaluate, but few people would deny the effectiveness of the taeties of the Labour Party 's industrial^ wing in its assault on the Communists, After a year of steady work wi-thin the unions the official Labour organigations can show important gains. Their work eulminated in the decision at the annual conferenee to ban left wing Labour members from participation in the indnstrial groups being formed in factories and offices to counteract Communism. But Labour 's right wing went still further. After endorsing the recent suspension of the left wing Katoomba branch and the expulsion of one of its members it confirmed a recommendation tliat the executive should inquire into the activities of party members who take.strike action before trying to settle disputes by conciLation and arbitration. Without interfering .with the strike as an efficient and legal weapon of' the Labour movement this aims'a telling blow at industi'Tal laAvlessness as practised.. by some .Communist-clominated ■ tihions to1 the detriment of Australian industry as a whole. The new attitude has received the full support of the disputes committee of •the Trades and Labour Council which is prepared if necessary to instruct' unionists to fill jobs left vacant by unauthorised strikers. The influence of the indnstrial vviilg of the Australian Labour Party is to be seen in the comprehensive legislation against attempted sabotage of the defence plans and in the warning by Mr. Chifley that trade" unionists owe a duty to the nation as well as to their organisations. Plainly the representa tives of the people are preparing to res;st disastrous stoppagcs such as the recent Victorian transport strike which inflieted hardship on the entire com-munit-y without achieving anything for the strikers. The press is unanimous that the Labour Party 's entrance into t1 arena, while bclated, may well be decisive. The struggle is to prevent the abuse of the strike weapon rather than to oust the Communists from the political scene. The general opinion is that- this fight" has been going on too long with the Government in a neutral corner.