GAINING STRENGTH COMMUNIST PARTY IN N.Z.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1932, Page 3

GAINING STRENGTH

COMMUNIST PARTY IN N.Z.

CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 10.

The Communist Party in New Zealand is growing numerically. Development work during the past 'twelve months has led' to the establishment of groups in Auckland', Huntly, Dunedin/ Christchurch, Wanganui, Napier, Rotorua, Aiillefton and Palmerston North. In a year the party has doubled its numerical strength. The strongest group is in Auckland, where there are sixty members. Admission to the party is safeguarded and expulsion is easy.

Behind the Coiriiriunist Party there is the Unemployed Workers’ Movement, which claims a membership of 22,000 throughout New Zealand. The Unemployed Workers’ Movement generally approves of policies determined by the Communist Party. The Labour Defence League, which is intended to be a mass organisation and ultimately will assume that status, also comes under the influence of the Communist Party. Some trade unions and other working-class organisations are, affiliated to the Labour Defence League, which in turn has affiliation with the International Red Aid, which has its headquarters in Blerlin and branches in all. white-peopled countries in, the world, except New Zealand. Another ally of the Communist Party is the Militant Minority Movement, which had its beginning in some trade unions of Britain and which is spreading to- New Zealand. At the present time a, more or less intensive campaign is being waged among the watersiders, miners, seamen and freezing workers to develop the- Militant Minority . Movement in this . country, and already several branches have been established. The Militant Move ment is affiliated throughout the woiHd to the Red International: of Labour Unions, which is the largest organisation of its kind in the world-. Ti e' Friends of t..e Souet Union i» another powerful ally of the Communist Party. It has its headquarters in Berlin and a membership of millions throughout the world. In various parts of New Zealand the Friends of the Soviet Union is established. The official organ of- the union, “Russia To-day,” is a newspaper with a circulation of 1,000,000- and it is widely distributed in this country.' The Friends of the Soviet Union is a' political organisation formed to protect the ideals of Sovietism, f but it is. a non-party organisation. 73ie Christchurch branch is growing rapidly and regularly conducts- propaganda campaigns and organisation meetings. Recently a conference of New Zealand branches' of the union was held at Auckland and Christchurch was represented at that conference. Thus it can be seen that the four main mass organisations coming under the influence of the Communist Party : re the Unemployed Workers’ #Moveuerit, the Labour Denferice, League, the Militant Minority Movement, and; the Friends of the Soviet Union. Combined, they form an ajjiny greater than thb united strength of the Allies in the Great War, and their inflxi-, once seems to be making itseft felt in New Zealand, where efforts are being made to establish branches.

It is on the formation of a New Zealand branch of the Militant Minority Movement that, efforts are being concentrated at the present time. Although the numbers are not yet strong there are groups working in'various centres in New Zealand upon the compilation and distribution of propaganda. Typewrit’ten propaganda is in wide circulation. The Unemployed Workers’ Movement is lending its support to the work that is in hand, and the type writer and the duplicator are the means by which the U.W.M. and the. M,M,M. compile and print weekly bulletins containing news and propaganda.

The “Searchlight,” and the “Watersider” are two of the publications which are distributed. There are eight altogether. In various ways and by vaious means Communism is go wing in. New Zealand.