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Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1928, Page 2

A light is surely dawning .in the Australian Labour world when the conversion of Tom Walsh froftr Russian Communism is being proclaimed. Particulars to this effect came through in a cable message last w§ek which stated 3fr Havelock Wilson, "general president

of the Seamen’s Union, had published a long letter from Mr Toni Walsh, general president of the Seamen’s Union of Australia, written on May 19th. renouncing Communism and suggesting that the International Seamen’s Club of Australia is financed from Moscow, wiin the object of destroying Britain’s communications with the Dominions. He refuses to stand by and see, the seamen made the tools of Moscow, and he urged Mr Wilson to counteract this by opening union agencies in Australia. Mr Wilson told the Australian Press that ho was gratified that Mr Walsh was dropping tho Communists and dissociating himself from the militant gang who were endeavouring to destroy Australian unionism. As regards the International Seamen’s Club of Australia, a cable message in April stated that a club for use by seamen, the declared object of which was to provide mental and physical food for them, had been opened ill Sydney. Apparently no funds were withdrawn bv the Seamen’s Union loathe establishment of tho eluh, which bad every indication of being the work of the Third (Communist) International, for the purpose of the dissemination of Soviet propaganda. The principal officer of the club speaks English with a strong foreign accent. ITe said that the Australian Seamen’s Union would be officially recognised by the dub, and significance was attached to the fact that the dub’s organiser had been made a niemlwr of the Seamens’ Union and allowed to take part in all its meetings. The bookstalls and files in the library of the club abound with Communist literature. and a large; portrait of Lenin occupies a prominent- place at the end of the ball. It would appear this was the last straw to settle the conditions of Mr Walsh, and it is to be hoped many others will see the light and follow ill his footsteps.