Why Australian League Got Rid Of Communists

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1948, Page 7

Why Australian League Got Rid Of Communists

;ApGKfAV?il)j A'ljiril 21., :. ''Australian Continunis-m is treaspxi able, anti-dcmocratie and destructivc The League cannot alford to harbour traitors and it woulil be most unwise for the League platforni to bc xised for the dissemi nation of subvcrsivc propaganda..' ' - * So said Mv. Kcn Bolton, prcsidcnt oi the 'New Houtli Walos Eeturned Hol-. diers' League to-day, cxplaiuing ^ lns organisation's decisiou to ban C.oin munists from its ranks. Mr. Bolton is lcadiug a contingcni of Australian ox-servicciueu wlio liavi arrivcd in Auckland to takc part-in tlu Anz'ac Day ceremonies. Origi'nally hc luid opposed the ban ning of Coniniunists ong the grounds that tReir creed was a political idulosoph.v aiul that the League was not con •enied with politics, said 31 r. Bolton. Now, however, circuinstifxices had coni pclled him to taka the view expressed : by the leaders of otlier orgaxiisations, that the Comiuunists were a subvcrsivc elomeut. i A feature of Coinmuuist lechnique l»oth at hoxne and abroad, was allacK in defence. They lilved to niake llieli , opponeut.s appear the aggrc-SKors and " squealed-" about, being ' ^exicii-cled-" and " victimised" wliile carrying' ou wxtlx tlieir infiltration tactics. This is Auckland 's Australian conlingent. Others have gone to the three otlier xuain contres. Each cousists, pl 13 nien. -Tliis morning they laicf awreat.h at the Cenotaph, acconijianied by Mr. A. Postlewaite,,presi(lent of tne Auckland R.S.A'. and niembers. of tne Auckhwid executive. Mr. J. Ilinton. V.C., was also present. The contingent was later entertained liy the Auckland Conuncrcial Travellers' AsHOC-iation andxthis afternoon" aec.or.ded a civic rcception iix the Town Ha.ll.