The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1948. REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY

Grey River Argus, 15 April 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1948. REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY

THAT the warnings which members of the Government have been giving to organised workers of this country regarding Communist aims and methods are not idle, there are examples to-day in nearly every other country. It is undeniable that discontent, and in various instances hardship, arising from industrial or social conditions predisposes those dependent on wages to expect betterment. That fact is indeed tire explanation of the Labour Movement ami its

gradual spread throughout the realm of modern capitalism. Originally organised in the industrial field, the workers found it necessary to exert influence politically, and, therefore in addition to their unions, established parliamentary parties. The proof of their wisdom has this century been the shaving- of governmental powers by such parties in many countries, and also legislation which improved the condition of all wage earners to an extent never imagin-

ed by the fomenters, of class warfare who since a century ago have sought to divert workers into revolutionary action everywhere. It has been demonstrated hero and anywhere else that Labour Parties attained legislative power • that •life workers have risen in living standards far beyond the level at which workers remain economically and culturally in those countries where the goal set for proletarian agitation has been simply

revolution, confiscation and dictation. This very fact to-day blinds many wage earners to the foolishness and jeopardy liable to overtake them through revolutionary activity in the very countries where their lot has so immensely been improved by legislation and organisation along orderly industrial and political lines. We have had in New Zealand various examples of this possibility of misdirection and disruption. and it is simple prudence

on the part of Cabinet Ministers to adopt precautions and utter warnings lest the Avhole 'community suffer loss and want through organised action for the subversion of the State; At the moment a host, of countries exemplify an unprecedented campaign for world domination under the banner of Communism. Those who say it could never happen, here must close their eyes to nearby Australia, as well as to incidents in the Dominion akin to bigger activities across the Tasman. The real core of the

I thing there is the misdirection of Unionism and political action the ultimate goal of which is world revolution. This is instanced in such organisations as those of seamen, watersiders, railwaymen, j metal workers and clerks, and, ! until there has recently been some modification, of miners. Mr Semple’s campaign against Communism has been inspired by the recent attempt to dictate to the Government by Communists in Queensland. Under their plan, those whom they succeed in placing over unions, such' as the ones mentioned, are pledged to transfer unions from social welfare to revolution. It is truly remarkable to what wide influence they have attained in Australia, since “Jock” Garden formed their party in 1920. Dictatorship in Australia, as part of a world dictatorship is the end in view. Communists do not worry over political organisation in the Parliamentary sphere, for they know that if they have, through executives,' the control of unions, they can. 'control the bulk of the workers. Tf this be questioned, it is only necessary to cite the apathy among the rank and file responsible for union control passing so extensively into Communist possession. Not only do opponents have the force of such, unions turned against them, hut arbitra:on—sometimes admittedly too slow and bureaucratic —is taboo. Given the degree of ascendancy in key unions which Communists recently held in Australia, and they could paralyse the Commonwealth far more alarmingly than they recently paralysed Queensland. This would have been quite avoidable if the actual dispute had been referred to any arbitrament other than that of class war. If the key unions were all called out for a political motive, a 'country could be paralysed in little more than a day. Although the movement for revolution is enrolling women and juveniles, Ihe pivot meantime is that of a hold upon important unions, a hold invariably gained because the rank and file largely devote their interest to anything except their organisations. It ought to be reasonabe, however, to expect that those tried leaders of Labour who now are warning the workers to take their industrial organisation more seriously,

before they find themselves powerless, will have the effect of keeping New Zealand clear of the danger threatened elsewhere. We want no warfare, and least of all do we want civil warfare.