ASTOUNDING DISCLOUSURES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 265, 5 August 1919, Page 6

ASTOUNDING DISCLOUSURES

disloyalists and returned SOLDIERS.

One of the most interesting questioua discussed at tho Soldiers Congress ut Adelaide some days ago was the relation of returned men to industrial unionism and their difficulty in certain places of securing employment. A letter was read from the Charters Towers branch, which stated:— "iu the north we have a very large number of disloyalists-Bolshevists, I.W.W.'s, Sinn Feiners, etc., and these men are doing their utmost to demolish the Returned Soldiers' Imperial League. Unless some strong action is taken'they will have a good chance of succeeding, as they do not like to see the badge, and in a good many cases refuse to work with men wearing the badge. These are the kind of men on wihose mercy a returned soldier hits to depend for permission to earn a living. It was further stated that the only way out in the opinion of the great majority of members of tho branch was for tho ieague to become immediately an industrial organisation. In pursuance of the wish of the Charters Towers branch and to test the feeling of the congress, the following motion was movedi—'

That the league be registered as an industrial organisation so as to enable it to appear in .the arbitration courts in matters affecting returned sailors and soldiers, and that amendments to acts of Parliament be maiV if necessary.

Mr. Blackburn said an industrial union must consist of men working in a particular industry, but the league comprised members working in a variety of industries. some in none, and' many others connected with professions. lie bel.sved the only way they could register as au industrial organisation .would be to cut out every member not working in one of four or 'five specified branches of industry. Mr. Corby, M.P. (W.A.), said the constitution of the league debarred it from taking part in industrial matters, but that was the avowed object of the motion, and ho questioned whether it was in order. 11 r. Bowers (S.A.) said men invalids b:-,ck from the war were not able to look after their own interests in the industrial world, but those now coming back fit and well, could be expected to exert a beneficial influenco in their various trade organisations. Mr. Cull (secretary) caid they should encourage mon who were in unions before they wont to the war to go back.to those unions and use their influence there, but as a league they should keep right out of industria.l mattars. The motion was defeated by a large majority.