GAOL ACTION CHANGED TUNE OF THE REDS.

Chronicle (Levin), 21 July 1949, Page 7

GAOL ACTION CHANGED TUNE OF THE REDS.

Received Wednesdav, 10 p.m. SYDNEY, July 20. Officials of the Australian Communist' Party this afternoon indicated their readiness to abide by the Nationai Emergency Coal Strike Act, by giving notice in the Arbitration Court of intention to seek permission under the Aet to withdraw money from the bank for ordinary business purposes. Action by the Communist Party in

retnrning to the ' banlc the funds removed, allegedlv to assist the eoai strike, has caused much eomment. "The Communists have thrown in the sponge, " said a Kurri Miners' Lodge officer. "The strike picture is poor, and those who loolc to the Communist Party for a lead have been disappointed. ' ' The State President of the Australian Labour Party (Mr. J. A. Fergusons said that the Communist Party leaders had shown they were unwillmg to suffer the hardship imposed on others at the will of the Conimunisx Party. A simple solution of the problem of the men in gaol was to ao exaetly as the Communist leaders have done — return all the money to the banK and iudicate their {feceptance of the law. ' ' So Sharkey and his brave comrad.es paid the party money back and avoided going to gaol," comments the Sydney Telegraph. "Everyone must share the pleasure of Mr. Justice Foster to know that the lions of Marx House are really law ahiding — especially when going to gaol is the alternative. When the miners' funds and their leaders' skins xyer'e.Mn dangqr. the top boys of Marx were AiL. for dying at the stake. Wlieh their own funds an^ skins are involved they are law abiding. The moral seems obvious."