YOUTHFUL "REDS"

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 114, 6 January 1932, Page 2

YOUTHFUL "REDS"

SPECIAL TRAINING CAMP FOR COMMUNIST YOUNGSTERS IN SYDNEY. ' "THE CAPITALIST PRESS." Latest move "to educate" the children of Sydney in the principles of | Communism is an instruction camp ; on the banks of the George's River. While, _ happy, carefree children ' from the Far West were settling down in their camp at Manly, enjoying the surf and the sunshine, about 40 of j these young Communists, aged from | eight to 14, marched, with red banners flying, to their camp at Kentucky, describing themselves as pioneers. ! The children belong to the Banks- ; town district, and while in camp will j undergo a course of Communism as well as games and swimming. Prior to setting out from Banks-

town to Kentucky the children, many of them wearing red neckties and sashes, assembled in the local Unemployed Workers' Movement rooms, and, led by an adult playing a piano, Iustily sang "The Reg Flag," "Solidarity for Ever," and other 'Red" songs. There was an apparent hitch in the arrangements. On the Trek. A motor l'orry which was to take the party to the camping .ground failed to arrive on time, and the youthful band started out to trek the distance of about three miles. They formed up outside the U.W.M. rooms, and, headed by a boy of about 12 bearing a scarlet pennant, upon which was emblazoned the Soviet symbol of the sickle and hammer, the procession moved off, several of the kid- ' rHps earrvinsr small swags and blan-

kets. They were accompanied by several young men, one of whom wore a bei*et of -a deep red. c The children h.^d received strict instructions to beware ,of photographers, and when a cameramen focussed there was a geperal scatter. The flag was hastily furled and the bearer ran under the railway crossing in Marion Street, while the rest of the procession broke up and ran in all directions. Many turned their backs upon the camera and boo-hooed the Press car. One little fellow of about 12 was asked why he objected to having his photograph ' taken, and replied: 'It will be used against us." "Against whom?" he was asked. "The pioneers of Sydney." "But Sydney has had its pioneers. What do you mean by that?" Blazing the Trail. We are the pioneers of a new party. It is better than the Labour Party " he replied; and added: "You

are sent out by the bosses of the capitalistic Press." When other attempts were made to photograph the hikers they again scattered and hid behind bushes, and a shower of stones at the Press car heralded its departure. Later, a motor lorry with three large red flags held by three youths wearing red caps caught up with the children and took them aboard. Not Wanted. The same afternoon, when a pressman visited the camp in a beautiful glade, the commandant ordered him off. "We don't want your people here. You are a capitalist firm. Get out!" he said. "Yes; mind the step," said a woman who was coming upstairs. When the visitor commenced to ask questions the camp leader, who was busy with a case 'Of tomatoes, said: "We will tell you nothing. Get out!" An attempt to question a lad of 12

who wore a red tie and a red beret also proved fruitless. He said: "We will have nothing to do with capitalist organisations."