Growing Threat

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 212, 23 September 1937, Page 9

Growing Threat

-Press Association.)

COMMUNIST ELEMENT Auckland Union Circles Concerned EFFORT TO GET CONTROL

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Concern is felt in industrial labour circles in Auckland over wkat is regarded as a deterniined attempt by a group of uniouisfs •with Coininunjstic leanings to capture control of the district council of tlie Federation of Labour. Tlie council, whicli is an amalgamation of the old Alliance of Labour and the Trades and Labour Council, was formed several months ago following a conference of New Zealand unionists in Wellington, and in July last provisional officers were elected. Their tenure of office expires nest month. Nominations closed recently. There is cvery prospect of keen contests for all the vaca'neies at the election on October 21. The acting-president, Mr, F. G. Young, acting-vice-president, Mr. *W. J. Cuthbert, and aetiug-secretary, Mr. H. Campbell, are seeking Te-election, as also are several of tjlic temporary executive. It is believed that a ballot will be necessary in all cases. There are 30 vacancies on the executive. It is thought that the Communist ticket will win a measure of success. No secret is made of the fact that the District Council. has been embarrassed on occasions when Communists have taken successful snap votes on issues which many Labour supporters would have preferred left undecided. lt There is nothing to fear provided that the delegates of sane Labour attend for the election in their proper nuiubcrs, " said a leading secretary this morning. "The Communists ar» well organised and will attend to a man. They certainly have discipline." It is explained that the political organisation of the Labour Party has succeeded in preventing interference from outside influences, as its rules prohibit anyone who is a member of another political group from admission to the party. The Communists have delinitely been refused- admittance in the same way as would memi bers of the Nationalist Party. The Federation of Labour, howevcr, is difPerently constituted, being an industrial organisation, and it is withiu tho province of anyone engaged in industry to ' enter membership.