COMMUNISM IN MELBOURNE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1930, Page 2

COMMUNISM IN MELBOURNE

REMARKABLE DOCUMENTS

MOVES AGAINST UNIONS

SYDNEY, October 30,

The surprising activity of the Aiello ume police against Communistic organisations in that city, culminating in the arrests of more than a score of men, has led to' the seizure of a number of amazing documents. Sydney is generally regarded {is the headquarters of the Communistic movement in Australia, and the seizure of documents in Adelaide some months ago bore this out. Now it is shown that the Sydney executive has been dissatisfied with the progress made by tli e “comrades” in Victoria, and lias been urging intensive activity, with a view to undermining the influence of the 'Labour Party and the Trades Hall, and the taking advantage of tlie large measure of unemployment. A circular to trade union members who are also members of the Communist Party informed them at a certain resolution had been carried by the executive, and therefore became an instruction that should be carried out'with as little delay as possible. It pointed out that each matt must attend regularly the meetings of his union, and submit a report to the executive each week. The important task of setting up tlie revolutionary opposition in the unions had to be undertaken by gathering round the Communist Party the sympathetic elements, and pushing forward the Communist Party’s policy of basic demands in regard to wages, hours; and working conditions. The struggle against rationalisation—that was the speed-up, and piecework systems and rationing—must go hand in hand in the fight against the trade union bureaucracy of social Fascists. The rank and file of the organisation should strive to secure control of the unions, and preparations should be made to fight the elections with militant candidates.

THE EVIDENCE

Co-operation with unemployed mem-, bers of unions in their struggle to secure full rights to union membership and the economic aims as set forth in the unemployed workers movement were other urgent phases of the work that were waiting for the Communists, the circular went on. A pathetic note was struck when it was stated that the executive was disappointed that there was not a greater demand for the pamphlet “Meet Lenin,” which was for sale at one penny a copy. A penny phamiphlet by the “greatest working class leader in the world,” it was said by tlie executive, should commend a ready sale. Ahother document defined the Communists as “the organisation in the vanguard of classconscious workers.” Its purpose was tiro education and oganisatlon of the workers for tlie overthrow of the capitalistic State, and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat, the abolition of the Capitalist sysem, and the development of - a Communistic society.

A letter signed by the secretary, and addressed to "Comrade Koscieski” stated that the organising department was of the opinion that a sectional committee could easily be set up in Geelong, and several more members gained if a competent organiser could be placed there for a few weeks. It asked what support could be given if an organiser was appointed. Another “Comrade” was asked to vitalise one of the country groups as “objective conditions are .becoming more favourable every day and our party is meeting with increased success everywhere.” The North Melbourne branch, in another document, . was described as “very militant.” The members wiere “wonderful—like a cage of wild tigers.” They had already stopped, several evictions, and in a mass demonstration visited all the house and land agents in the district and warned them that if they attempted to victimise any unemployed worker they would deal with them and their bailiffs in a very unpleasant manner.

AGAINST TRADES HALL OFFICIALS.

Another interesting extract from a circular from the executive was as follows:—“A method we have adopted to keep the rank and file together, and which has proved to be very successful, is as follows:—The militant workers considers that if a man will not fight for the right to live and will not come into the majority, they will declare him black and deal with him as he ought to be dealt with. We find that this i= putting the wind up them, and that they are afraid to miss meetings or any other functions connected with the movement.” It is urged that a more definite, stand should he taken against the Trades Kail officials. At one of the raids the police arrested 20 men, and the arrests since then number close on twenty. The arrests that were made on Sunday followed with meetings on the Yarm Bank, when the police were condemned for'the activities that had been displayed. Those who have since been before the Court on various chancres include a number of Russians, a Czechoslovakian, several Italians, two or three Scots, natives of England, and Home plain Australians. Two of the foreigners who were arrested appear to have come into Australia without pns'sports, and this opens up interesting possibilities. The police, therefore, are extending their enquiries, assistance of the Customs Officials. It will be interesting to dis-

cover by what means they entered Australia.

The search is now going on for a Russian woman who, according to the police, has been in Australia for two years. She is regarded as the leader of the Communist movement in Victoria, and the police are very anxious fo interview her. It would seem that she was warned of the raids, for when her usual place of abode was visited she had vanished and she has nob since been seen. It is thought that she must have left for another State. Hidden under the floor at the Communist Hall, the police say, they found a length of steel cable, bound at the eiufi and 20 loaded batons that were secreted in boxes of sawdust. Cartridges were also said to have been found in a drawer, and a quantity of Russian propaganda.