STRIKE THAT FAILED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1921, Page 5

STRIKE THAT FAILED

VISION OF ENGLISH SOVIET. REMARKABLE DISCLOSURESBy Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Nov. 30. Mr. J. H. Thomas (Labor M.P. and the railwaymen’s leader), under cross-examina-tion, in his libel against the newspaper Communist, said he believed on April t» that the Triple Alliance strike would menu a new Government, not a Parliamentary Government. Replying to Mr. Justice Darling, Mr. Thomas said he visualised a Soviet, but would not be a party to such. Mr. Justice Darling: If the Triple Alliance found themselves opposed to the Government and it meant a bloody revolution, then you would have had to withdraw from the Alliance. Mr. Thomas replied: “That would have been my attitude.” Replying to defendant’s counsel, Mr. Thomas stated that by retaining his position as railwaymen’s leader he saved the country from a revolution. Mr. Thomas, cross-examined, handed Mr. Justice Darling a copy of the Privy Councillor’s oath, remarking that he bad frequently discussed industrial questions with the King, whom he always found impartial. The King never extracted anything from him. Mr. Justice Darling interrupted: ‘‘You must not reveal what passes between the Privy Council and his Majesty; you should stop forthwith.” Replying to defendant’s counsel, Mr. Thomas stated that Communis.., had said he was telling the Ministers all that was happening and was betraying (his side. This was a libellous accusation. Counsel: “You say you did not tell Ministers all that was happening in the agitation. You took an oath that pledged you to do so.” Mr. Thomas said: “I discharged the obligations of my oath as Privy Councillor. It was an industrial dispute and I interpreted it as such and took steps to prevent it becoming other than that.” In further cross-examination plaintiff said many miners were now accepting less wages than in 1914 because they would not take his and Mr. Hodges’ advice. Ife declared he believed that Russian money was now subsidising the Communist movement. Defendants’ counsel: The rouble is extremely depreciated. Mr. Thomas: But jewels are enhanced in value. Mr. Hodges gave evidence that, so far as he knew, Mr. Thomas never gave away the miners’ secrets or plans to the other side. There had been nothing to complain about in his conduct of the negotiations.