COMMUNISTS ROUTED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1931, Page 6

COMMUNISTS ROUTED

ACTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES. LIVELY SCENES IN COUNTRY TOWNS. SYDNEY, November 26. Lively scenes that have occurred in several New South Wales country towns during the past week have emphasised the determination of the country people t° have nothing to do with the Communists who recently embarked on a campaign for the spreading of Red propaganda. With unexpected suddenness the situation which had been simmering in Dubbo for months past came to a head the other night, when a strong Citizens’ Committee which met in a paddock about a mile from the town decided that the "Reds” would have to get out. If the police did not send them out the citizens would. The meeting was held at night in a circle of light provided by the headlights of 52 motor-cars and everyone present signed a pledge that Communists would not be permitted to remain within the precincts of the town. The following day a deputation of over 100 strong protested to the Mayor against the permission he had given for the holding of public meetings at which the “Reds” dei’ided the King, the Country, and Christianity. The Mayor said the Council was fully .sympathetic, and would do all it could to rid the town of the menace. Things began to look very ugly in Dubbo when the extremist element decided to form an Unemployed Workers’ Movement, in order to counteract the Communists. For a while feeling ran so high that the Mayor decided to prohibit all public meetings. The outlook did not improve when the Citizens’ Committee sent a deputation to the four Sydney Communists, and told them that if they did not leave the town in 48 hours they would be thrown out. Their presence would not be tolerated at any cost, and the police, if they sought to give protection, would be defied. Encouraged by the support they had received from the unemployed, the Communists, in turn, also took' up a defiant attitude, and said they would remain in Dubbo at their own pleasure. As it seemed quite plain that .was brewing, the police were reinforced, and Dubbo waited. At the end of the allotted time there was not a Communist left in Dubbo. Rescued by the Police, At Armidale on Monday night, a wrathful crowd of 400 made three attempts to throw Communists into the creek, but on each occasion their prey was rescued by the police. The town when the citizens assembled near the Post Office for the meeting which had been arranged by the Communists. At first it seemed as though everything would pass off quietly, but as soon as one man in the crowd announced bpenely that he was a pommunist, and then proceeded to boast of the fact the crowd became excited. The stranger was pushed here and there, and in order to save him from the rough handling he would have received he was taken to the police station. A few minutes later a 3'oung Scotsman announced that he . would not take off his hat while the National Anthem was being sung. He immediately became the centre of a wild attack, and he joined his comrade in the lock-up. Another Scotsman said incautiously that the two who had been rescued were “brave fellows.” He was instantly seized by the crowd, and commenced a journey to the creek. He would have reached the creek, too, had not the police intervened. The crowd continued to search for Communists, but, needless to Say, did not find any more. The men who had been given police protection were quietly placed on a train by the police and sent' tp another town. .

In many of the country centres the citizens have formed Defence Committees, and any “Reds” who show up are certain to receive a warm reception, The “Reds” should be quick to realise that, the country districts of New South Wales are not for them.