FULL INVESTIGATION INTO SHARPLEY CHARGES

Chronicle (Levin), 30 April 1949, Page 5

FULL INVESTIGATION INTO SHARPLEY CHARGES

MELBOURNE, April 29. The executive o'f the Melbourne Trades Hall Council will conduct a full investigation into charges by Mr. Cecil Sharpley of Communist interference in union affairs. Despite stiff opposition from the militants, tlie council adopted a report from the secretary (Mr. J. V. Stoutl ,c. .numeiuling sucli an investigation. The executive will inquire speciiically : nt ») charges that certain union officers were elected . on rigged ballots, tliat ,ue policy of certain Coimnunist-ied unions was to reduce production and prevent economic stability, and that some Trades Hall Council delegates had been improperly appointed. Mr. Stout said tliat everyone had read the Sharpley artieies. Those who knew the trade union liioveuieut were not surprised, but those who did not were slioeked by the disclosures. In Brisbane, Mr. L. C. Sliarkey, who was referred to by Mr. Sharpley as " Australia 's No. 1 Communist," said that .Sharpley was a "traitor, who was prepared to sell hiniself for the fou1 uioney of the enemies of the working class.'" lie added: "I console nivself that tln capitalists have got Sharpley, but thc Comiuunists have got Shanghai and l think we got the netter bargain. " When asked by a meniber of the audience at a public meeting whethei. this meant that he associated hiniself with the deaths of tlie British sailors in the Yangtze River, he replied: ' ' That question should be directed to the British Governnieut for sending warships into a battlefield where mii lions of men were ligliting for existence. " Secretary Cleared The Federal council of the Federated Engine-drivers' and Firemen's Associatiou has cleared and reinstated its general secretary (Mr. W. P. Evans ) following charges by Cecil Sharpley of l»allot-rigging in the union elections. I11 liis artieies Sharpley said that Evans was not a Communist and that lie knew nothing about ballotrigging, but that his eieetion was considcred desirable by the Communist Party. After Sharpley gave evidence at the council meeting, he was confronted with a Melbourne Communist (Mr. S. J. Williams) to whom Shargleyfhid referred as the returning officer assisting i 11 tlie alteration of voting tiekets. Sharpley repeated his allegations and Williams first asked for legal representation and then declared that the Federal council had "110 right to run u thing like this." He added that he would be prepared to ref'ute the charges before a Koyal Oommission. Mr. L. Warren, representing the Barrier brancli: Why not liere before your own union? Do you think we have come hundreds of miles for fun? Refute this man's allegations. Alr. Williams: All right. I deny his stateiuents. After furtlicr exchanges, Mr. A. Culliniore, Federal president of the associatiou, said to Williams: "You are depriving your president and council of the opportunity to investigate grave charges. I11 refusing to give more than a blanket denial' you are withliolding vital information. As I see it you rei'use to state your case before the council of your union and your accuser. " The meeting then adjourned.