"THE WORKING CLASS PARTY."

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1929, Page 7

"THE WORKING CLASS PARTY."

(The Otago Daily Times')

A msitlent on the West Coast has forwarded to ns a circular, issued hj the Comiminist Party in New Zealand, the terms of which we publish below. Wlmt the strength of the Communist Party may be in Ncm Zealand is. problematical: in all likelihood it is very {-mall for, although it describes itself as the working class, party, the majority of the industrial classes are too well informed to have any sympathy with it. And the description of the revolutionary publications, for the possession of which four Communists were punished a few weeks ago in Wellington, a,s “working class literature” is one that will certainly not be accepted as accurate bv educated working people. The conviction of these men was, we are asked to believe, “just the beginning of boss class oppression.” And since the Communist Party asserts that “it must not go unchallenged” it may derive some encouragement from the fact that only last week the Otago Labour Council expressed its indignation over the conviction. Put the Otago Labour Council apparently deceives itsejlf if it imagines that it ns representative of the workers, for the Communist Party claims that it offers the only hope for the working class, the Labour Party and Tradei Unions being composed of “hypocrites” and “traitors.” The Communist Party certainly takes itself seriously—more seriously than it will be taken by the miners among whom its circular has been distributed and from whom it demands a one day strike as a against Capitalism and all the wickedness with which Capitalism is associated.

COMMUNIST ACTIVITY. “BOSS CLASS OPPRESSION.” The following are the terms of a circular which has been distributed among the miners on the West Coast: WORKERS REPLY TO FASCIST ACTION OF N.Z. AUTHORITIES. Pressed of the competition of other capitalist countries, and feeling the effects of the world-wide decay of capitalism, the New Zealand capitalist class, although later than those of other countries, has already forced selni-starvation conditions on thousands of relief workers, and is even now strengthening its forces for further attacks on the organised workers of the Dominion' (the Blackball dispute). Organisationally weak, misled and deceived by the constitutionalism and hypocrisy of the Labour Party and the majority of trade union officials, the workers stand helpless offering no resistance to the conditions already imposed on the relief’ workers and unprepared for the conflict to come. SUPPORTING THE WORKING CLASS PARTY. The Communist Party aware of the sinister preparations of the boss class, alone in its exposure of the Labour Party and trade union traitors and the only party realising the necessity of meeting the oncoming capitalist offensive is naturally marked out for special treatment by the boss class police. Fearful of the swing towards the Communist Party that will take place with the worsened conditions of the workers (unemployment, etc.), and the subsequent loss of faith in the methods of constitutionalism and class peace advocated by the Labour reformists, the boss class, with the spectre of a strong revolutionary party before its eyes, has embarked on a campaign for the suppression of the Communist organisation. Four Communists, all members of the Central Executive of the party, have been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment under the War Regulations Act for having working class literature in their possession. THE ONLY WAY TO PROTEST. This is just the beginning of boss class oppression. It must not be allowed to go unchallenged. The only hope for the working class lies in the building of a strong Communist Party, the only bulwark against capitalism, the only party connected with the international working class, and the only party that can lead the workers to final victory. The Communist Party stands at the head of the working class struggle for the control of industry. An attack on the Communist Party is an attack on the whole of the working class. Workers 1 Demonstrate in the only way that will make the boss class feel the strength that is yours. Organise a One Day Strike as a Protest. ACATNST THE IMPRISONMENT OF MEMBERS OE THE WORKING CLASS. PARTY. AGAINST THE WAR REGULATIONS ACT. AGAINST THE BOSS CLASS GOV. ERNMENT. AGAINST CAPITALISM ITSELF. Miners! Demand immediate action from your leaders. DOWN TOOLS AS A PROTEST. A ONE-DAY STRIKE. [lssued by the Communist Party of N.Z.]