The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1931. THE DANGEROUS ELEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1931. THE DANGEROUS ELEMENT.

Although some of the audience at the I Theatre last week was not disposed i to listen attentively to the candidate’s 1 remarks- about New, South Wales and | the obvious deductions to be drawn 1 from the Labour administration in that State, it is impossible not to refer | to the locality and the subject because j the state of affairs as existing there |is quite an object-lesson for otuer ! peoples to take note of. Strikes and j disorder are very prevalent in Aus- ! tralia generally and . New South Waies | seems to have more than an average J share. The primal cause is attributed to Communist action and though told of it, the Government make's no effort to suppress the objectionable methods of the Communist. It i s said that Soviet agents are the background to the movement, and the people are now beginning to realise something of the danger to the country 'if the under-sirablc-3 are not.-dealt with. The people are now taking the matter into their own hands, and Communists are being “run out” of some of the country towns, so that it would appear the backblocks will not be impregnated with the evil influence. In | the city there is also a strong organisation afoot which demands the deportation of the Communist. This is the "New Guard,” the leader of which has been outspoken and definite as to handling the dangerous element and all iit has been responsible for. The “New Guard” is a, challenge to lawful authority to do its duty, or else the organisation will attempt to perform it for the State. This is not a healthy condition of affairs constitutionally. But unfortunately the Labour Government shows little disposition to control the growing situation. ,It is true that the Federal- Government has been a little more definite in its pronouncement, but while .strikes and unrest are deprecated it is generally in a mild from, and Mr Scullin was rather “forcibly feeble” in his Challenge. It is, .not according to the constitution that unauthorised forces should take a hand as the “New Guard” proposes, hut, it. has given its ultimatum to the authorities, and if the legal process is not enforced by the Government, then the irregular process will be attempted. This i? a. form of Fascism which rears its head from time to time when- Governments grow supine, and it certainly will ho some check on the revolution that Communism really alms at, . The fact that this “Now Glint'd” is;,, needed is a reflection on Labour rule in Australia—which suggests that Labour in office is a serious misfit. Tho “New Guard” is made tip of a loyal section of the community who believe their country is in 'danger from the pernicious element referred to- They consider the 'Labour rulers are, not safeguarding the workers and industry of the country as they should, and they are ready to supply that omission. Tt is a serious thing for the working man to be put out of employment by a strike destined to cripple the country and not to assist the worker. It- is more serious, for industry generally stopping production and so preventing the country to recover from its depression. The “New Guard” proposes to protect -the worker while life goes about his work and also the industry of the eeuntrv, that prosperity will .not be interrupted. If you drop the capital letter from Labour, and consider labour in the interests of the working man, it will he seen that this so-called Labour movement .is net in the inte’fests of the workers who require regular work, but is organised mainly to boost those directing the cause, which we see fn A ustralia, i.s conducted not for the the benefit of the working man and the country, but for the ultimate undoing of both.