ORGANISED DEMONSTRATIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 20, 20 December 1932, Page 6

ORGANISED DEMONSTRATIONS.

The disorders which took place in England several weeks ago have been clearly proved to have been the result of propaganda inspired from abroad. When the matter was raised in the House of Commons, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr G. Lansbury) blamed the police for the disturbances, but the Home Secretary was able to show that they had been carefully and deliberately planned, “just as similar disturbances in other parts of the country had been planned.” Refuting Mr Lansbury’s allegations against the police, the Home Secretary paid a tribute to them for their admirable restraint and forbearance notwithstanding great provocation. When men whose behaviour led to their arrest were brought before the Court, the Magistrates, remarked the London Times, were quick to discern the dupes of an organised political malevolence. “Men do not walk in perfectly peaceful demonstrations with spiked heads of railings and flints and half bricks in their pockets,” this journal added. The chairman of the Unemployed Workers’ Movement and the editor of a Leeds newspaper, the Daily Worker, have been sent to gaol on charges arising out of disorders in the Homeland. The last named vilely libelled the police; the former was convicted of inciting two members of the union, by means of a letter sent from Moscow, to cause discontent, and in the words of the Judge had “admitted that the hunger march was aimed not at drawing attention to troubles bravely borne, but at inciting the mass to struggle against the Capitalistic State.” Such is the _ propaganda from Moscow. “Riotous demonstrations,” the London Times also said, “have a place in the prescribed methods of an organisation, directed from abroad and alien alike in spirit and in purpose, which is working to overthrow not only the order of society which exists to-day, but also such an order as Mr Lansbury would regard as the achievement of a social paradise.” The latter is a point overlooked by the dupes of Communism. Its members have no love for the true working man and his leaders, and it is unfortunate that there should be willing dupes to aid their nefarious work. The address on law and order given in Palmerston North last week by Mr H. Johnston, K.C., iis a happy reminder of the great joy and benefits —which often pass unheeded —of living in a lawful community. “An unruly mob,” he said, “is the most terrifying thing in the world, beside which one can look with equanimity upon well-disciplined troops under shell fire. Make up your, minds to live in a community which has law and order at heart, otherwise there will be a reign of cruelty and devastating terror more horrible than one can imagine.” These remarks were addressed to a youthful audience and it is well they should understand their implication.