FEDERAL PARLIAMENT AND COMMUNISM

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1948, Page 8

FEDERAL PARLIAMENT AND COMMUNISM

SYDNEY, April 1

When the Australian Parliament resumes after the Easter recess the Liberal and Country ©position parties are expected to move a censure motion against the Government for its failure to grapple with Communism, which is blammed for most of the industrial strife in recent months.

The Country Partv has always called for the most drastic action against Communism, but the main Opposition party—the Liberal Party—has been reluctant to urge a ban on the Communist Party on the ground _ that such action would be a negation ol political freedom. At a Liberal. Party meeting last week, however, it was unanimously resolved to start an allout campaign to ban Communism. One of the last to be converted to such a policy was the leader, .Mr R. G. Menzies, who had maintained through the last two elections that interference with political action and beliefs was contrary to the principles of democracy. He was converted by two' recent events—the seizure of power by Communists in Czechoslovakia arid the prominent part played by Commuists in the present strike in Brisbane.

The censure motion will embarrass a number of Labour Party members, who also feel that the time has come to take stern action against Communist encroachment in the trade union movement. . The Prime Minister, Mr J. E. Chifley, who is known to have no sympathy with Communism,, adheres to his belief that there should be no political suppression, no matter what philosophy is involved. Desnite a well-supported demand for Government action by a section of the party, caucus is not likely to cross the wishes of its leader when the matter is discussed. Mr Chifley is well aware of the aims of the Communist Party but rather than drive the movement underground, by declaring it illegal he has ordered a greater surveillance by security police. To improve the efficiency of the service, the Government has brought to Australia, a British secret service expert, Sir Percy Sillitoe, who is nowconferring with Australian security officers. i