DICTATOR OVER TRADE UNIONISTS.

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1949, Page 7

DICTATOR OVER TRADE UNIONISTS.

AUCKLAND, May 5. The Cominunist Rarty boss in Auckland has dictatorial powers over trade unionists here who are members of the party and holds a post corresponding to thaia formerly filled in Victoria by Mt Cecil Sharpley. Instructions issued to these Cominunist unionists in a secret

bulletin, were endorsed "for part" members only — destroy after reading." These diselosures were made-today by Mr. James Preeman who recently retired% from the presidency of the Auckland Trades Couneil. He was commenting on the series of artieles by Mr. Sharpley, exposing Australian Reds. Because the Communist Party 's infl.uence here was already receding, these exposures could not have come at a better time, say Auckland trade unionists who want the expulsion of Communists from all executive positions in the industrial movement. They feel that the Sharpley revelations will inspire the strongest resistance to the determiued bids to split the New Zeaiand trade union movement which Lett Wing militants will make at the annual i conference of the Federation of JLabour, one of the most critieal in its hi.story, ox>ening at Wellington on May 1/. Comnnuiist practices in New Zeaiand, these trade unionists say, include intimidation, physical assault, the forging of credentials to secure admissLon to union meetings, the "packing" oi meetings, the prolongation and disruption of discussions to the point of ex haustion, "smear" campaigns and in fiitration by which dangerous inroads on New Zeaiand trades unionism has beem made in recent years. Workers were "plauted" in selected industries to establish Communist cells to control key unions. The Communists. enc'ouraged by the fairly full rein allowed New Zeaiand' s indulgent democracy, had become impudent. Brazen abtempts at repudiation of G-overnment authority and defiance of the law, hau been made. They aimed principaliy a the coal, transport and housing industries. Moderate unionists were saying these practices must be stopped. The call was for compulsory secret ballots on all major policy issues and the election of union oliicers. The Communists dread most of all the secret ballot. Mr. Freeman says it is obvious to the lionest intelligent trade unionists of this country, that the technique of tlie Communist conspiracy which Mr. Sharpley has exposed, is not peculiar to Australia. In studying the pattern of industrial eo'nhict in New Zeaiand, it becomes immediately apparent that it conforms'-to the overall strategie plan.