VICIOUS REDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 80, 1 October 1931, Page 13

VICIOUS REDS

LABOUR MAN ATTACKED

COMMUNISTS IN SYDNEY

(From "The Post's" R«presentttiv«.) SYDNEY, 17th September. During the last two or three -weeks the Communists in Sydney have been coming more and more into the open, and if it is their desire to embarrass the Labour Party they are succeeding >' with a vengeance. Of course, the party has- but itself to blame, for it has for years been flirting with the Beds, and has more actual Communists within its ranks than it would care to admit. As a matter of fact, the- leaders openly boast of the fact that they have nothing to do with the Beds, but everyone knows that they speak with their tongues in their cheek. Why, only last week the State A.L.P. endorsed as a Labour candidate for a vacancy on the City Council one Mr. Donald Grant, who every Sunday in tho Domain tells all who care to listen that he is an enemy to society as at present constituted. At tho time of his endorsement he was bound over to be, of good behaviour for twelve months'as the result of a charge of having'used insulting language to a police sergeant. In \ Court he Baid that Tao ■would insult mem- ■ bers of tho Police Torce as long as he had breath in his body. Now he js a I Sydney City Alderman, upholding the banner of Labour. i THe activities of the ■Reds Teachcd a pretty eYimax <m Tuesday "wYien six ol< their number.took part in a cowardly attack upon the secretary of tho State A.L.P. (Mr. J. B. Martin) as he was on taring tho Sydney Trades Hall. The reason for the attack is somewhat obscure, but the leaders of tho Labour movement say that it is on account ot attacks on tho Communist movement by "legitimate" Labour men. In short, they assert that tho Communists have entered upon a policy, of intimidation in order to prevent a criticism oi their policy and tactics. A member of the A.L.P. said he had been informed that the Communists would "get" Mr. Martin because ho had publicly attacked them, but at the time the threat was not taken seriously. . The Communists have pfhees in xne Trades Hall, and the fact that a number of them waited at the entrance did not arouse suspicion. The attack was well planned. As soon as Mr. Martin turned to enter the main door he was struck a heavy blow on the head, ana. instantly tho six Communists nommecl him in and rainod heavy blows on his body. Mr. Martin retaliated by heavily punching one of the attackers, but the others came to the man's assistance ana it was not long befol-o thoyihad M r . Martin on the floor and wero, kicking him mercilessly. Mr. Martin was knocked semi-unconscious. Tho commotion caused several typists to scream for help, and as soon.as help arrived the Communists made oft. As they ran off they said to. another oflicial of the Labr our Party: "You wall bo the, next." Alderman Garden, secretary o£ tho Trades and Labour Council, said; he had often been threatened by the Communists. Tuesday's attack is likely to lead to a complete dissociation of .official Labour Party and industrial organisations affiliated with the Australian Labour Party from the Communists. AH bodies working under the guidance' ot the Communist Party, which sometimes have the support of the Labour Party on important public questions, may be banned altogether, and efforts will certainly be made to eject them from the Trades Hall. The Labour Party is wise enough to know that the public will not tolerate the violence which is being displayed by ; the Communists who, of late, have had frequent clashes with the poliec. The women Communists seem to be tho worst offenders in this connection, and only last week almost succeeded in breaking up a big women's meeting at the Town Hall. They wero not silenced until several had been removed from the building to appear in Court tho next (lay on various charges oi; assaulting and insulting tho police.