RUSSIA’S GRIP

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1930, Page 3

RUSSIA’S GRIP

ON NEW SOUTH WALES LABOUR SYDNEY, February G,

Moderate trade unions in New South Wales are amazed at the astounding fact that Russia has secured such a grip of the trade unions in New South Wales that the Red International of Trade Unions at Moscow is in a position to censure the Sydney Trades Council on its industrial policy. The censure, which was tabled at the last meeting of the council, calls upon the Labour Council to carry on its fight against White Australia, to fight , against all forms of industrial arbitration, and against all forms of industrial peace. Mr J. S. Garden, secretary of the Labour Council, is a member of the executive of the Red International, and should he visit Russia in June it will ha necessary for him to give a full report of conditions in Australia. Mr F. Rods, president of the council, and Mr P. G. Harnett, who have just returned, were both called upon to give reports to the executive, and both were amazed at the knowledge of Australian conditions possessed by the Soviet Communistic authorities. Recent manifestations that the instructions from Moscow are being carried out were the tactics used by the Labour Council in the timber and coal disputes, and the formation of the Red army on the coalfields and, in Sydney. Moscow has a double hold on the policy of the unions through the Red International affiliation of the Labour Council, and the dominance of the Communist International over the headquarters of the Communist Party in Sydney. The activity of the Communist Party has been particularly pronounced since the Sydney Central Executive was censured by the parent body in Moscow for failing to carry out the revolutionary programme Immediately the Central Executive was reconstructed, and though the internal workings of the Communist Party are kept secret the names of the leaders of the movement have leaked out. Most prominent is J. Lough ran. He is a New Zealander, and is believed to be a tailor by trade. His main activity at present is the management of a book-stall near the Trades Hall, where all revolutionary literature is for sale. Nearly all the executive are obscure members of trade unions, but this does not prevent them from carrying out their task very effectively. A noteworthy feature of the Communistic organisation in Sydney is the foreigners’ department. There are various sections for the foreigners, such as the Greek section, the Italian section and so on. The Greek section boasts a membership of about 30 When'the foreigners meet they hold discussions in their own language.