Straight Talk and Sneers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 454, 8 September 1928, Page 1

Straight Talk and Sneers

“GROVELLING TO RUSSIA” Gibe About Mr. Thomas’s Topper STORMY UNION CONGRESS (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Reed. 10.41 a.m. LONDON, Friday. A BITTER attack by Mr. J. H. Thomas on the policy of grovelling to Russia, and sneers from the miners' delegates at Mr. Thomas’s frock coat and topper at Ascot, were features of an uproarious Trade Union Congress debate at Swansea.

fpHE Engineering Union presented a

resolution that the council call a world conference and include the unions affiliated with the Red International, to re-establish the AngloRussian joint advisory council. Mr. Thomas said: “We disrupted with Russia in 1927 because it misrepresented us and lied about us. The same tactics are in evidence to-day. We are not going grovelling to them while they ruin their own country and try to ruin ours.” The conference shouted down Mr. Williams, a Forest of Dean miner, who said there was small difference between Tomsky and Thomas. It did not matter whether a proletarian wore a shirt or a silk hat, but it was essential that the workers of the world should unite. The resolution was defeated by 2,877,000 to 437,000. Mr. Will Thorne, representing the general workers, said the Communists

were trying to work their way into every trade union branch, just as Lenin wormed his way into the Ros sian movement in 1917. Personally, he would like to see “Comrade” Stalin present, because it would be found that the Soviet was not getting value for its money here. Mr. Herbert Smith. the miners' president, said Mr. Williams was not speaking for the miners. The Congress was unanimously agreed that there should be effective public control and co-ordination of all transport, with compulsory regulations and insurance. The Transport Unions’ representative said they were asking for restriction of the insane road competition. He urged restriction of driving licences, declaring that some cars were in the hands of cripples. Mr. A. J. Cook has been ordered a complete rest. He fainted after making a speech on the Mond negotiations yesterday.