AUTOCRATIC POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26640, 10 December 1947, Page 5

AUTOCRATIC POWER

COMMUNIST LEADERS KEY WATERFRONT UNIONS DIRECTION OF WOOL CLERKS’ STRIKE From C. R. Mentiplay, N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent. SYDNEY, Dec. 9. The strike of tally clerks, which is paralysing shipments of wool from the main Australian ports at a time when the maintenance of external trade is of paramount importance to the Empire, is admittedly the work of the handful of Communists in control of the key waterfront unions. Seven years ago the Communists took control of the Federated Clerks' Union, which since then has been subject to careful development and reorganisation. Under newly-formulated union rules, the Communist-controlled executive has complete autocratic power over all clerks without fear of interference by the rank and file of the members. In any move it makes it is solidly backed by the militant Waterside Workers’ Federation, which, by its actions in support of the Indonesians, has proved itself strong enough to defy the wishes of the Federal Government.

When questioned by correspondents in the first few days of the strike, the tally clerks directly concerned in the dispute stated that they were opposed to direct action. They would not, however, give their names, for fear of reprisals from the executive. After this disclosure the non-communist leaders of these men .were called before the executive and persuaded to express their confidence in its actions.

Before the Communists gained control the clerks had monthly general meetings at which members could express views without fear of expulsion. The actions of the officers were controlled by the members, who elected them by an annual plebiscite. To-day there is no general monthly meeting. The clerks have been divided into sections representing their particular employments. Revolts which have occured against Communist domination have always been confined to these watertight compartments. The paid officers of the union are Communists or sympathisers, who are now immune from annual elections, and who hold office at the pleasure of the central .council. Thus the essentially moderate main body of opinion in the union has no chance to challenge the executive, which functions as an autocracy. The State secretary, Mr J. R. Hughes, and the Federal, secretary. Mr H. A. Thorne, are members of the Communist Party. This explains why the wool clerks first learned about the stoppage when their executive announced it to the press.

“The timing and the effect of the ban leave no doubt that it is another move in the Communist campaign to use control of trade unions to dislocate industry and paralyse national economy,” says the Sydney Morning Herald. “The inspiration for this and similar' disputes must be sought in Moscow’s appeal to the faithful of all lands to rally to the new offensive against capitalism and imperialism.”