“RED” ACTIVITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 May 1932, Page 3

“RED” ACTIVITIES

SOME POLICE REVELATIONS. VICE-REGAL INTERFERENCE

MELBOURNE. May 19

Revelations that an attempt by Communists to interfere with the ViceRegal party at the opening of .Parliament on April 6 was feared by the police, and the statement that Communist organisation in Melbourne “is far more serious than people think.” were made before Mr A. A. Kelly, who lias been apopinted a board o inquiry to investigate charges against the police of undue violence in a disturbance in the city on that day.

As a precaution, i-t was stated by the poilicei, the route of the Vice-Regal party through the city was changed at the last minute. Mr Norman o’Bryan (on behalf of the Police Association) asked Sergeant J. R. Rirch (who has been detailed to inquire into Communistic activities) to give his opinion o! the general situation as a result of the economic crisis.

“It is much, more serious than people think.” replied Sergeant Rirch “Every suburb of Melbourne lias a Workers Defence Corps organised by the Communists. Each corps is composed of four units of nine men. and is organised to prevent demonstrations being broken up by the police.

Interference With Vice-Regal Party

“I was told before the big unemployed procession Look place on April Ii that the Communist party was going to try and lead a demonstration to Parliament House at the Lime of the opening of Parliament ceremony.” sai ( | Sergeant Rirch. “We also had authentic information that the Vue-Regal party would he interfered with.” (. oss-oxamiiioi.l by Mr A. M Eraser

appearing for six men allegedly inured in the clash), Sergeant Birch said that the possibility of the men with whom he clashed interfering with the Vice-liegal party was in his mind when he stopped their progress.

Plain-clothes Constable Norman Alien Wilson, a member of Sergeant Birch. A stone was thrown by some-

Communists in the precession which he helped to stop. Ho struck two ncii on the shoulders with his baton. One o ! he men was aiming a blow at Sergeant Breli. A stone was thrown by someone in the mob.

Cross-examined by Mr Fraser, Wilson said that there were ten or twelve known Communists from Pont 1 ' Afel. hoii'-ne in the procession. Contingents of Ringwood and Box Hill unemployed followed them. He believed that they were either going to Parliament House •it* n l '!lining to intercept the Vice-Regal party.