SEMPLES CHARGE OF BASHER GANGS IS UPHELD

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1948, Page 4

SEMPLES CHARGE OF BASHER GANGS IS UPHELD

Queensland Premier Cables the Facts P.A. WELLINGTON, M&rch 24 Cabled details of the activities of the Communists in Queensland, supporting his recent statement on the industrial position there, has been received by the Minister of Works, Hon. K. Semple, from the Premier of Queensland, Hon. Mr E. M. Hanlon. Mr Semple’s statements were challenged by Mr T. Healy, the secretary of tne Australian .Waterside Workers' Federation, and Mr Semple’s statement that “The Bash Gang” was operating in Queensland was particularly objected to. To-day Mr Semple said that he had dispatched the following cable to Mr Hanlon: “It has been denied by the Communist Party of Australia, through the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, that physical violence occurred during the Queensland striKe, before the introduction of the anti-p;cKet law. Whilst in Australia, i garnered the impression, from tne newspapers that, following the unfavourable decision to the strikers resin ung from tne ballot taken by the men who were concerned with the petrol for the planes, some of the non-sympathisers were mannandiea, either inside or outside the Trades Hall. Brisbane/ “I have been under the impression that your anti-picket laws were to protect the men who went to work, as against violence, or threatened violence. I shall be grateful it you will coniirm my statement.” The following is the reply that has been received: — “Before the new industrial law was introduced, a man, named Ross, .was charged with the indictable offence or assault, occasioning bodily harm, upon one, Tippel. Tippet is a member of the Btcremcn and Packers’ Union, and the offence occurred in the corridor ot the Trades Hall, immediately following a meeting of the members of tnat union who were employed by Tippet’s employers. Moreover, oeiore the Act was introduced, homes were being visited, between midnight, and morning, and the wives of the workers were being terrorised by threats of what would happen to their husbands if the latter returned to work. Also, before the Act was passed, a deputation of three well-known Communists waited on a prominent Aiderman of the Brisbane City Council, who had advised the workers against taking part in the strike. This deputation told him, in the interests of his own health, to keep out of it. “i would point out that picketing in relation to a lawful strike is still permissible. Under the new- law, when the Industrial Court has ordered strikers to resume work, any attempt to prevent the workers from obeying the court order, by picketing or other means, is unlawful. A copy of the new Act has been posted to you by air mail.”

“This cable speaks for itself,” Mr Semple declared. The facts were that when the Communists succeeded in isolating Queensland, women and children were hungry, in many of the towns there. Mr Hanlon had to telephone Mr J. B. Chifley, Commonwealth Prime Minister, asking for aircraft and for petrol to fly food to these hungry people. The Communists endeavoured, at once, to get the men serving the planes, that had to be refuelled in Queensland to go on strike in sympathy with them. After some pressure, a ballot was held, and the men decided that, notwithstanding intimidation, they would service and refuel the planes to supply food to the hungry people. Ic was these men’s wives who were terrorised, and the men'themselves were manhandled and threatened,” said Mr Semple. “I think this cabled reply justifies any statement which i made on the industrial position in Queensland,” he added.