AN AFFRAY

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1931, Page 5

AN AFFRAY

COMMUNIST CAUSES COMMOTION.

(Australian Press Association.)

SYDNEY, .November 13

Sensational happenings concerning Communists are reported from a wayback western hamlet, Bourke, in the centre of a rich pastoral district. A small part of Communists, led by a man named Moxton, located there, making an inflammatory speech, intimidating graziers and townsfolk, de daring a revolution was imminent, and enlisted unemployed farm labourers in a Red Army. The local police were powerless, everybody being terrorised, and a climax was reached yesterday when hundreds of farmers’ sons and citizens, led by a local doctor, named Alcorn, formed themselves into a citizens’ defence army, and marched on the Communists’ headquarters, armed with palings and batons, and ordered Moxton and his companions, who have been living on the dole, to quit, and gave them three days to leave Bourke. The Communists were armed with picks, shovels, hammers, pieces of iron pipe, and timber. Moxton appealed to the police to protect him.- Alcorn, acting as spokesman for the citizens, told Moxton he must leave by Sunday, or otherwise the citizens’ army would take forcible measures to that end. Alcorn had difficulty in restraining his followers from launching an immediate attack) The police appealed to the crowd to do nothing rush. Alcorn agreed, but sternly warned Moxton that he must be out of the disfriot in three days. ' Alcorn stated to-day that only the reading of the Riot Act by the local 'Sergeant prevented bloodshed, but said the Riot Act would not prevent bloodshed when the next clash occurred. FEELING running high. (Received this day at 9.t0 a.in) SYDNEY, November 14.

Anti-Communist feeling is running high in several country centres. One Communist was run out at Tarcutta. At Dublin where there are, three hundred undesirables the antis are ready, it is rumoured, to throw them into the river Macquarie.

The All For Australia Party in this State is to present a united front to the extremist* forces at the forthcoming Federal and State elections. Mr Bavin protested against the Government ordinance issued in New South Wales, requiring municipal and electoral officers to group tlio names of candidates voting papers in such a way as to bring tile State political issues into the municipal field.

Formerly the names were printed in alphabetical order irrespective of party.