SUBSCRIBE TO LABOUR HISTORY – The Journal Of Labour History THE NATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE No. 3, September 2006 ISSN 1832-9926 ASSLH Contents EDITORIAL Dale Lorna Jacobsen 2 Labour History (ISSN: 0023 6942) is an internationally recognised journal and part of the prestigious History Co- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 3 operative of the University of Illinois. It is published twice a year, in November and May, by the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History – a non-profit ASSLH President’s Column Rae Frances 4 organisation to which the Labour History Association is affiliated. BLHA President’s Column Greg Mallory 6 Members of the BLHA who are not already receiving Labour History are encouraged to subscribe – the full rate for individuals is $50.00 (concession rate for IN MEMORIAM students/unwaged is $35.00). Rates are kept relatively low as ASSLH is a non-profit Bill Scott Roger Ilott 8 organisation. New subscribers to Labour History receive the current year’s journals and a free back issue of their choice. Denis & Jack Kevans Colin McJannett 9

The support of the journal by individual subscribers makes it possible for Labour POEM History to continue to promote and publish labour history research in and This Woman is Harmless Ynes Sanz 14 beyond. Please send for the Guidelines if you are interested in contributing to the journal. REPORTS

A series of articles on Co-operation and the Politics of Consumption will appear in the Fair Play Cabaret 2006 Bob Ross 11 November 2006 issue of Labour History contributing to our understanding of co- Mayday in Brisbane 2006 Redreunion 12 operatives and their role in past and present Australian society. These authors include Patmore & Balnave, Cutcher & Kerr, Darnell. Also in November: A look at the Right and the ALP between 1917 and the early 1930s (Kirk); a piece on John Bernard ARTICLE Sweeney QC (Shaw); Workplace Activism in the NSW Branch of the FEDFA Lessons from Defeat: Humphrey McQueen 17 (Westcott); the Teaching Service (Married Women) Act 1956 (Dwyer), and more. the 1927 Claim for a 40-hour Week by Queensland You can subscribe from the secure website – www.asslh.org.au; or by faxing your credit card details to (02) 9371 4729; or by posting a cheque made out to Labour Building Industry Unions History or credit card details to: Labour History, Economics & Business Building H69, University of NSW 2006 BOOK REVIEWS Henry George’s Legacy Richard Giles 47 Enquiries: Tel: 02 9351 3786 Fax: 02 9351 4729 in Economic Thought Email: Margaret Walters at [email protected] Comrade Roberts: Bob Reed 48 Contents, abstracts and prices of back issues are available at the web site Reflections of a Trotskyite www.asslh.org.au or on application to [email protected] CONTRIBUTORS 50

56 NOTICEBOARD 52 Concession prices for group bookings of 6 or more. Please enquire. Booking for conference and dinner is essential by 13 September (for catering Editorial purposes – vego also available)

cheques payable to: BLHA PO Box 5299, Dale Lorna Jacobsen West End, 4101

Further info available from: Greg Mallory, 0407 692377, [email protected] Welcome to the third edition of The comprehensive review of Trotskyite, Queensland Journal of Labour Comrade Roberts. Dale Jacobsen, [email protected] History. I am delighted to have as our major article Humphrey McQueen’s We say a sad farewell to three of our * * * paper Lessons from Defeat: the 1927 Folkie friends: Bill Scott, and Denis Claim for a 40 -hour Week by and ‘Jacko’ Kevans. How important SPORT and WORKING-CLASS CULTURE CONFERENCE Queensland Building Industry is is to celebrate those who Unions . This is a preview of a acknowledge the workers in their June 2007 manuscript on the unofficial history songs and poems. And that is exactly of the ABLF, commissioned by the what the BLHA is planning with its The Brisbane Labour History Association (BLHA) in conjunction with the CFMEU, which Humphrey will be Rekindling the Flames of Discontent Australian Society for Sports History (ASSH) will be hosting a conference on delivering at the end of April 2007. Conference, Dinner & Concert this topic in June 2007. The conference will explore such themes as the planned for September. influence of sport on the working -class both in Australia and overseas as well as This is an important part of working -class attitudes and involvement in sport at various levels in society. An Queensland’s Labour history, one that This is your journal. We welcome example of one theme could be the role of workplace sport eg workplace should not be buried in the past. By contributions from members and football in , work-based cricket in Brisbane. coincidence, this paper addresses anyone else who wishes to document similar issues to my article in the the history of Labour and other social The key-note speaker will be Dr Tony Collins, from Leeds Metropolitan March 2006 issue of this journal (The movements in Queensland. I University, UK, author of Rugby’s Great Split: Class, Culture and the Origins ALP and the ARU: How Personal particularly wish to thank each of Rugby League Football and Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A Vendettas can bring Down a contributor to this issue; for their Social and Cultural History. Government ). It demonstrates how professionalism in their writing and in the McCormack Labor Government adhering to my strict cutoff dates. The Noel Butlin Archives in have shown interest in supporting this sided time and again with the You have made my job as editor a event. Expressions of interest, ideas for papers, presentations and involvement employers at the expense of the pleasure. in a planning committee should be directed to Dr Greg Mallory at workers. [email protected] or Paul Circosta at [email protected] As you read Ynes Sanz’s poem, This Included in this issue are two Woman is Harmless, reflect on the It is envisaged that the planning committee will be set up in early November. excellent book reviews: Richard files that ASIO still hold. Giles’ in depth look at Henry The conference is on the ASSH web-site: George’s Legacy in Economic Lastly, many thanks to Janis Bailey http://www.sporthistory.org/News.html Though t, edited by John Laurent and for her willing advice and assistance. Edward Elgart; and Bob Reed’s * * * * * * 55 2 CONFERENCES Letters to the Editor REKINDLING THE FLAMES OF DISCONTENT: Celebrating a history of collaboration between the Folk Dear Editor, Movement and the Labour Movement I wonder if any BLHA members remember Jackson’s Estate on the 23 September 2006 outskirts of the old Cribb Island East Brisbane Bowls Club, Lytton Road (next to Mowbray Park) town-ship (long ago destroyed for airport extensions) in north-east To celebrate Australia’s rich connection between the Labour movement and the Brisbane. Folk Movement — and to foster its future — we at the BLHA we are holding a 1 day conference / dinner / concert on 23 September. Jackson’s Estate was a motley collection of dwellings built from old During the conference, Doug Eaton (ex member of the Bandicoots and packing cases etc. on land donated by Communist Arts Group) will speak on the influence of people such as John a Mr. Jackson at the end of World Manifold; Sue Monk & Lachlan Hurst (Jumping Fences) who have studied War 1. music in Cuba and Latin America, will demonstrate how songs actively shape an understanding of international workers’ struggle by focusing on the New Returned First World War ‘diggers’ A meeting organised by the CPA Song Movement from Latin America; long-time member of the Sydney Realist were allowed to build whatever after the war to address the housing Writers, Bob & Margaret Fagan are coming from Sydney; as is ex Brisbanite shanties they could in appreciation of shortage. (From the collection of Mark Gregory, who will be speaking on labour and trade union songs; John their service to King and Country. Connie Healy) Warner () has spent a lifetime writing labour movement songs (railways, miners…), which he will perform with Margaret Walters. Absolutely I first saw Jackson’s Estate when Scandalous will perform during dinner. campaigning for the late Frank Doyle, Federal Labor Member for Lilley, * * * The Combined Unions Choir will commence the evening’s concert with a 1972-74. I had not led a sheltered life bracket of those union songs we all know and love to sing along with. All the but Jackson’s Estate was a real eye- conference presenters will perform, plus Sonia Bennett (singing works of Denis opener for me. Kevans ) and Tommy Leonard (singing works of Don Henderson). Obviously, most of the WW1 Venue for this event is the East Brisbane Bowls Club (next to Mowbray Park). ‘diggers’ had moved on but the The Conference begins at 1pm (registration 12.30pm) followed by Dinner at shanties were still occupied in the 6pm and Concert at 7pm. 1970s by new generations of luckless battlers. Maybe we will see There is three tier pricing: settlements like Jackson’s Estate on Full ticket (conference/ dinner / concert $40 ($30C) the edges of all our cities if Howard’s Conference / dinner only $30 ($28C) Way prevails. Concert only $15 ($12C) Yours faithfully,

Don Dwyer

54 3 Queensland Journal of Labour History – March 2007

Federal ASSLH The March 2007 edition of the Queensland Journal of Labour History will be devoted to a celebration of 100 years of the Queensland branch of the Transport President's column Workers Union. Dr John Kellett of the University of New England has agreed to edit this edition of the journal. In 2001 John published a full-length history Rae Frances of the TWU in Queensland, entitled A Fighting Union .

Anyone interested in contributing to the journal - with an article, review, report, I am very pleased to bring you the Recent Activities and Initiatives notice or any other material - should contact John asap at the following address: first edition of ‘President’s Column’, 1. Foundation membership of the Dr John Kellett, School of Economics, which aims to keep members of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and University of New England, Australian Society for the Study of Social Sciences (CHASS). This is Armidale, NSW 2351, Labour History (ASSLH), in touch new peak body whose mission is to ph: 02 67733563, fax: 02 67733596, email: [email protected] with activities of the Society. This promote an appreciation of the value first column will also introduce of the humanities, arts and social * * * members to the structure and sciences in Australia, especially at the All the Fun of the Fair – Seminar functions of the Society as well as Federal Government level. provide an update of recent activities. 2007 2. Foundation membership of the Origins and Functions of the International Social History The BHLA is planning to host a social history seminar in 2007, (working title: Society Association. This organisation was All the fun of the fair) exploring the history of the Brisbane Exhibition. First The ASSLH was formed in 1961 and formed in Sydney in July 2005. held in 1876, the Brisbane Exhibition (Ekka) has become Queensland’s premier serves as an umbrella organisation for Membership is open to both agricultural show and one of the largest in Australia. each of the regional groups, of which individuals and organisations and there are now seven: Sydney, currently has members based in A study of the history of the Ekka provides numerous opportunities to reflect Canberra, Illawarra, Melbourne, France, the Netherlands, Canada, on key themes in Queensland and Australian history, encouraging reflection on Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The Germany, Sweden, the USA, Italy, the histories of, among many other subjects, voluntary work, technological Society acts as a lobby group on Japan, Hungary, the UK and India as change, patterns of leisure, masculinity and femininity, the ideology of issues of concern to labour historians, well as Australia. development, the role of government, and the creation and transmission of such as opposing the proposed values and traditions. There are also insights into groups who were often closure of the Noel Butlin Archives 3. Website: at www.asslh.org.au. excluded from mainstream society, or more accurately, there are insights into of Business and Labour. Much of the how mainstream society responded to those groups, including Indigenous regular business of the Society is 4. Conferences: As many of you will people and people with disabilities. carried out by the executive be aware, the Ninth National Labour committee, known as the Federal History Conference was held in The two presenters, Dr. Joanne Scott (Senior Lecturer in Australian history and Executive to distinguish it from the Sydney in June/July 2005, jointly Head of the School of Social Sciences at the University of the Sunshine Coast) branch executives. The Federal organised by the Federal Executive and Dr. Ross Laurie (Australian History and Comparative Stud ies at the Executive is responsible for and the Sydney Branch ASSLH with ) reflect on the history of the Brisbane Exhibition, managing the business activities of the support of Unions NSW and the including its potential to explore labour history themes. the journal, Labour History. Business and Labour History Group, School of Business at the University * * *

4 53 of Sydney. The next national 6. Future Activities: In the current conference will be held in Melbourne political and industrial relations in 2007 under the auspices of the climate, we are aware that there is a Melbourne Branch ASSLH. We are need for a greater appreciation of Noticeboard also working with labour historians in Australian labour history in order to New Zealand to organise a trans- effectively meet the challenges which Tasman labour history conference in lay ahead. Several branches have EXHIBITION early 2007. already organised conferences which seek to bring together academics and 5. Assistance to Branches: The activists for a profitable sharing of Collaborating for Indigenous Rights: Federal Executive recently voted to knowledge and strategies. The an exhibition exploring the history of black and white establish a special fund to provide ASSLH would like to take a more financial assistance to branches. This active part in this process of Australian activism, 1957 -1973. fund, named after labour historian, disseminating labour history in an Bede Nairn, will be used in the future accessible way to activists and the September 2007 to assist branches with activities such general public. We are working on as conference organisation and several ideas ourselves but welcome The Project publishing. suggestions from individuals and Dr Sue Taffe, located in the School of Historical Studies, Monash University, is branches on this issue. the Chief Investigator for an exciting research project (funded by the Australian Rae Frances Research Council (ARC)), to mark the 50th anniversary of a unique * * * collaboration in Australia’s history. The purpose of the exhibition is to celebrate the achievements of activists – through photographs, audio and video clips, maps, documents, music and the visual arts. While the project will showcase the work of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) it will be broader than this, culminating in an exhibition, both actual and on -line. The exhibition will open at the National Museum in Canberra in September 2007 after which it will travel to all state capitals

Contact information If you wish to know more about this project, would like to lend materials or would like to make any suggestions please contact Sue Taffe at: Email [email protected] Fax 03 9905 2210 Telephone 03 9905 9150 School of Historical Studies, Clayton campus, Monash University, Vic 3800 Australia * * * President Greg Mallory at Reds & Rednecks with Ann Birmingham, Helen Rowe and John Dengate. 52 5

Ynes Sanz was privileged to have Albert and Eva BLHA Robinson as parents-in-law for some years. She won the 2005 Arts Queensland National Val Vallis Award for her Quandamooka Suite — an affectionate reflection on President’s Column Brisbane past and present. Her chapbook Lady with Weasel was published in 2005 by SweetWater Press. She is a Greg Mallory Committee member for the Queensland Poetry Festival.

Emeritus Professor Bob Ross, retired academic, Hon. Life Member NTEUnion. Only his most trivial academic At the May General meeting I achieved is to help fund the travel qualification relates in any way to the title. Now living up reported to members on the healthy arrangements of branch delegates to the hill from Nimbin thereby fulfilling his colleague/staff state of our Association. I wish to the Federal AGM in November each member's description of him, over many years, as a hippie. discuss some issues arising from this year. I feel there is a lot more work to He considers his most important claim to be that of father report and some other matters. be done in relation to the whole to a CUC chorister. question of Federal/branch Federal Relationship relationships. I have spoken to the Humphrey McQueen is a freelance historian working In July I attended the Federal Canberra branch and will be talking from Canberra. The CFMEU has commissioned him to Executive meeting of the Australian to other branches in order to ascertain write an unofficial history of the ABLF. He will deliver Society for the Study of Labour their ideas on how this relationship the manuscript at the end of April 2007. For more details History (ASSLH) in Canberra and can be improved. of his writings see www.alphalink.com.au/~loge27 raised the issue of the relationship between the Federal body and the Incorporation/Constitutional branches. In an earlier Federal Changes Richard Giles was a History Master at Catholic Colleges Executive meeting it was decided that The BLHA Executive is currently in Sydney until his retirement in 1990 when he became $1000 would be set aside per year for examining the ways the Association Secretary of the Association for Good Government, a body branches to help with the running of can become an incorporated body. At propagating the teachings of Henry George in New South their events. This was to be our AGM, which will be held before . He is author and editor of several publications, administered under the ‘Bede Nairn Christmas, the procedures for including the Association's magazine, Good Government . Fund’. It was decided at the July incorporation will be presented to the meeting that the $1000 would be meeting, as well as any other Bob Reed currently practises as a barrister in Brisbane, available each calendar year. The necessary constitutional changes. principally in the areas of industrial and employment law BLHA will be using these funds for and criminal law. From 1977 to 1988 he worked as a the Rekindling the Flames of ‘Housing’ of Archival Material painter and docker in the ports of Brisbane and Sydney and Discontent event in September. The This has been an ongoing item on our from 1995-1999 as a research officer for the Liquor July meeting also decided that it was agenda since 2000. A lengthy Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union. important for branches and the discussion at the May General Federal body to develop closer links, Meeting did not resolve the issue but and one way this can be practically gave us some directions for the

6 51 Executive to consider. and other assorted arrangements. She CONTRIBUTORS has been supported by a committee, Future Events of which I am a member, and also Dale Lorna Jacobsen is a writer living in the mountains of We are currently publicising the includes Doug Eaton, Lachlan Hurst, Maleny in south-east Queensland, prior to which she was an Rekindling the Flames of Discontent Sue Monk, Frank Forrest and Ann environmental scientist at Griffith University. She was a event in September. Work will begin Kerins. Queensland delegate to the 1989 Communist Party of in November on planning for the Australia Congress in Sydney, at which the vote was taken to Sport and Working -class Culture Reds and Rednecks wind up the party. Conference to be held in June 2007. I cannot finish this column without We are also committed to holding a mentioning my first performance at a Greg Mallory is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of social history seminar on the Brisbane folk festival [see photo p5 – Ed]. Two Industrial Relations at Griffith University. His book Exhibition (the Ekka) next year. John BLHA members, Frank Forrest and Unchartered Waters: Social Responsibility in Australian Kellett, former Secretary of the Ann Kerins, wrote a play called Red Trade Unions was published in 2005. He is currently working BLHA, and author of A Fighting and Rednecks: Some Political on a history of the Queensland Coal Miners’ Union for the Union: A History of the Queensland Extremes in Queensland History. It CFMEU. Greg is also a sports historian and is currently Branch of the Transport Workers’ was performed at the National Folk working on a history of the Brisbane Rugby League. Greg is Union, 1907 -2000, will be editing the Festival in Canberra in April. I was a President of the Brisbane Labour History Association. March edition of the The Queensland commentator to folk artists who sang Journal of Labour History. This around the various themes of ‘left’ Rae Frances is President of the Australian Society for the edition will be devoted to the (reds) and ‘right’ (rednecks). It Study of Labour History. She has been an associate editor of Transport Workers’ Union, who are commented on various political the Labour History since 1992 and is a past president of the celebrating their centenary. figures and events in Queensland’s University of branch of the National political history; Bjelke-Petersen, Tertiary Education Union. She currently teaches history at the Memberships Pauline Hanson, Rona Joyner, Fred University of New South Wales. Our membership continues to grow Patterson, Emma Miller, street and it is pleasing to report that we marches, working conditions etc. Colin McJannett undertook field collection of songs and have at least seven institutional Some of the singers who performed music from 1969 to 1980, extensively recording Harry Cotter members, unions and various were Ann Birmingham, Margaret of Binalong, NSW. Much of this material is in the National branches of ASSLH. Walters, John Dengate, Helen Rowe Library. He was Chairman of the Australian Folk Trust when and Peter Hicks. It was extremely the decision was made, in 1991, to locate the National Folk Thanks well received and I have encouraged Festival in Canberra; subs equently elected Chairman of the I would once again thank the Frank and Ann to organise a Board of the National Folk Festival Ltd. members of the Executive and performance in Brisbane under the Committees for all their hard work in BLHA banner. Roger Ilott is a professional musician, songwriter, recording making the Association a success. I artist, producer and studio engineer, working mainly in the would particularly like to thank Dale Greg Mallory Jacobsen for her work in the past six field of Australian . With Penny Davies, his wife and musical partner of 30 years, he has released a dozen months as editor of The Journal as albums. Together they run Restless Music, Australia's second well as organizing the Rekindling the largest folk music label. Flames of Discontent event. She has worked on billeting the performers, tickets arrangements, flyers, programs

7 50

In Memoriam Comrade Roberts is a good story. It is interesting. also good labour history because it is

an eloquent account told first hand. Ken Gee’s depiction of his Such gems are rare amongst the working class experiences are accounts of Australian working class interspersed with two recurrent history. themes. The first of these is the machinations of the Sydney Trots The book deals principally with a and their two factions led by the three-year period during the World towering figures of Nick Origlass War II in which Gee, a self confessed (‘the Chairman’) and Jack middle class boy from Strathfield Wishart. Much has been written (later an eminent barrister and Judge), about Origlass but, to my forsook his role as a solicitor in his knowledge, very little about father’s practice and joined the Wishart who by Gee’s account working class; firstly as a Photo by Penny Davies was a charismatic hard-drinking boilermaker’s labourer on the Sydney lawyer with a font of knowledge Bill Scott OA waterfront and then as a ‘dilutee’ and a keen intellect. It strikes me Australia’s Foremost Folklorist (1923 – 2005) engineering tradesman. His that his contribution to the left transformation from lawyer to manual Bill Scott, folklorist and writer of documents many of the experiences wing politics of the period is toiler is explained by his conversion Australian folk classics such as Hey of his early days. He then became a worth further study and to revolutionary politics, a process Rain! , Where the Cane Fires Burn, bookseller, and editor and publisher assessment. which he says commenced at the Bundaberg Rum , and The Monkeys with Jacaranda Press, before devoting Sydney University Law School Sing Soprano , and author of many his time to fulltime writing at age The second recurrent theme, and (where John Kerr was a books, including The Complete Book fifty-four. probably the book’s least contemporary), and which led him to of Australian Folklore (Ure Smith, appealing feature, is the author’s the ranks of the Communist League, 1976), died in Warwick Hospital on In the 1950s, with Stan Arthur and denunciation of Leninism and the Australian branch of the Fourth 22 December 2005, after a long Gary Tooth, Bill formed the Moreton Trotskyism from the view point of International and his new identity as illness. He was eighty-two. Bay Bushwhackers, and as a founding one who can now no longer Comrade Roberts. member of the Queensland Folk understand why such ideologies Born in Bundaberg in 1923, Bill Scott Federation, was instrumental in My favourite passages are those in appeal to him in his youth. The grew up in the Queensland bush, left setting up the Folk Centre in which Gee describes his work with discussion of these matters is school at 14, and at 18, joined the Brisbane. Nielson Brothers, particularly on the somewhat repetitive and turgid. Navy, where he served during World freighter Ville d’Amiens . The author’s War II on the Bungaree, a mine layer. Bill Scott was awarded an OAM in storytelling ability and his humanity Any criticisms of the book are He transferred to Fairmiles, serving 1992 for his services to folklore and shine in these vignettes of working minor. It is a valuable in the Pacific and New Guinea. Australian literature. A collection of class life. The characters, the work, contribution to the left wing his songs, Opal Miner: The Songs of the ‘6 o’clock swill’, the earthy working class history of the Following his discharge from the Bill Scott, was released on CD in humour — are brilliantly evoked. The period with which it deals. To the Navy, Bill subsequently worked as a 1999, and a film about his life in stories of his subsequent time as a learned Kenneth Gee QC, we canecutter, seaman, steam engine music, Hey Rain: what good is your fitter are less interesting, probably thank you. driver and miner. His book, Tough In life if it isn’t a song? , was produced because the characters are less Bob Reed The Old Days (Rigby, 1979) in 2000 and to date has been aired

8 49 The chapter by Warren Samuels and than replace Stamp Duty in NSW. three times on ABC television. Hey was descended from Irish settlers and others, investigates the political and They suggest that the myriad Rain: The Bill Scott Songbook was convicts who had lived in the economic power of land ownership. It complexities in the way rating and published by Restless Music in 2002, Ginninderra area since the late 1830 s, is a telling analysis, though it is more land tax are levied might be cleaned and by Timberhead Music in the USA and Betty’s parents, Alf and Emily Marxist than Georgist. They describe up by a national uniform land tax in 2003. Knight , were English migrants who developments leading into the late with a tax-free threshold, which lived at old Westlake. Alf was a 19 th century, for example, as ‘coming would replace rating. One important In the last couple of years, though bricklayer who worked on the to be seen as the consolidation of the contribution they make is to seriously ill, Bill derived enormous provisional Parliament House. When rule of capital in both economic and demonstrate that, despite its fiscal, pleasure from – and made invaluable Emily died in 1928, the community political matters’ (p. 107). social, and environmental advantages, contributions to – a small local poetry spirit of Westlake and Kingston land tax revenue is fast falling behind group, and the Warwick Folk Club. rallied and helped Alf to raise young The most controversial essay is that increases in land values. The political Betty. by Laurence Moss since he argues challenges facing its extension remain Bill made a lasting contribution to that landowners, in the guise of large. It is a challenge, they say, that Australian culture, devoting much of developers, are entitled to be repaid needs facing. his life to folklore and folk music. He for their shopping malls from the land also wrote novels, short stories, verse, values that they ‘create’. That, Moss Phil Day, a Georgist town planner, biographies, magazine articles, writes, is ‘turning Henry George on concludes the book with a description anthologies and songs. His poetry and his head’ (p.163). Many would agree of the evolution of land law and land short stories have been widely with him. taxes in Australia. He argues that it is anthologised. difficult and perhaps unnecessary to The two chapters written by John gauge the contribution made by Bill Scott is survived by his wife, Pullen are thought -provoking. He Henry George to these developments. Mavis, his son, Harry, and four argues that George might have served In his opinion, the Georgist grandchildren. Denis Kevans his own cause better had he treated movement has been largely ROGER ILOTT his ‘single tax’ as a restriction upon ineffectual in promoting the merits of (1939 – 2005) * * * Online at the National Library of private property rather than attacking land value taxation. His chapter ends Australia - 4 June 2001 it. In the other chapter, he discusses with an assessment of betterment and the criticisms and defences of the development levies as pragmatic The Kevans Brothers ‘single tax’. A more probing analysis responses to the need by government Denis was a Unionist, teacher, of the basic principles underlying to capture some part of the economic political activist and agitator, George’s thought may have led to a Denis (1939 – 2005) sportsman, singer, songwriter and rent created by the community. Tony (‘Jacko’) (1942 – 2005) more effective defence of George’s Richard Giles poet – Australia’s ‘Poet Lorikeet’ – philosophy and fiscal policy. died in Sydney on 22 August 2005 * * * The Kevans brothers contributed following complications arising from After pointing out the need to moderate both speculation and land greatly to Australian folk culture heart surgery. through their music, songs, poems price inflation, Frank Stilwell and Review of Kirrily Jordan try to find a larger and political activism. Denis’ poems appeared frequently in place for land tax in our fiscal policy. COMRADE ROBERTS The Building Worker, the ACT Land tax is a ‘big’ tax, and a more Reflections of a Denis was born in Canberra in 1939 CFMEU Journal, and celebrated a uniform land tax, they suggest, even Trotskyite to Mick and Betty Kevans. His strong working class culture and at a very modest level, might more By Kenneth Gee QC brother Jack was born in 1942. Mick agitated for better environmental

48 9 protection. Denis had been closely works were capable of stunning his basic ideas are recommended to associated with the cultural Left and sarcasm and scorn, yet he was also the chapters by Rob Knowles and the Union movement since the late able to write gentle and moving Terry Dwyer. The first examines the 1950’s, and he won a number of verses and songs. Denis is survived relationship between George and Leo literary awards. He was a prolific by his daughter Sophia, and partner Tolstoy, his most famous disciple. It writer and versifier, writing radio Sonia. conveys much about the ethos of scripts, plays, songs and poems; his * George’s thinking. The second outlines the essentials of George’s thought and applies it to such Review of problems as patents and the Henry George’s Legacy in privatisation of infrastructure. Economic Thought Other chapters are more discursive and derivative. The authors take from By John Laurent and Edward George some aspect that falls within Elgar (Eds.) their own interests and develop it. Cheltenham, UK, 2005. $US110, hardcover, vii + 271 pp. Erin McLaughlin-Jenkins, for ($71.50 if ordered from example, takes as her starting point Sydney 1978: L – R: Seamus Gill, Chris Kempster, Declan Affley, publisher prior to 31 December) two articles written by the biologist Tom Rummery and ‘Jacko’ Kevans. Photo by Bob Bolton Thomas Henry Huxley for The This, and other recent books, marks a Nineteenth Century in 1889, attacking revival of interest in the writer of George’s book Progress and Poverty. Tony (‘Jacko’ or Jack) was In the early 1960 s, Jack lived at the Progress and Poverty and founder of She explores the possible reasons for wonderfully encouraging to young Kingston Guest House, and was the ‘single tax’ movement, the 19 th Huxley’s ‘almost hysterical irritation’ completing his degree at the ANU and learning players and was always century American Henry George with Henry George. prepared to take the time to give and learning to play the piano (1839 -97). The editor, in his advice. He played in a number of accordion, an instrument that he introduction, uncovers an unexpected John Laurent’s chapter takes up the Canberra bands, including the would always be associated with. He legacy of policies and persons interesting theme of evolution in ‘Monaro Boys’, which included Bob later leaned to play the Anglo influenced by George’s theories, Progress and Poverty and George’s McInnes, Ian Drynan and Jim concertina and the fiddle. ‘Jacko’ including the curious fact that Billy other works. It is valuable in pointing Fingleton. The group made an became a teacher and later retired to Hughes was once the President of the to the fact that George regarded appearance at the first National Folk live in the Nimbin area. When he was Balmain Single Tax League! society as an organism evolving by Festival in Melbourne, in 1967. The diagnosed with liver cancer, he was the division of labour toward ever ‘Monaro Boys’ later evolved into spared the long drawn out battle This book seems to mark a more greater complexity and ‘The Wild Colonial Boys’, and this through the intervention of a heart promising stage in the academic interdependence. Laurent might have group included, Jack, Jim Fingleton, attack. At his funeral, there were approach to Henry George. Its taken the argument a step further to Bob McInnes, Tony Lavin and Bill many tributes made, including treatment of him in the past has too point out that George regarded the Morgan. The group only made one comments from his son Kieran and often been no more than a cursory mainspring of that evolution to be recording, ‘Glenrowan To The Gulf’, daughter Kate, and a eulogy from his and dismissive glance at Progress natural or equal rights, so that he and also appeared in the 1970 Tony brother Denis, who described some of and Poverty. Most chapters in this defines the law of progress as Richardson directed film Ned Kelly, the Kevans family history in Sydney volume exhibit considerable research. ‘association in equality’. starring Mick Jagger. and Canberra. Those wanting to be acquainted with Colin McJannett 47 10 75. DS, 24 March 1927, p. 5b; Editorial, 87. WW, 11 January 1929, p. 6; 18 March 1927. December 1929, p. 3; 20 December 1929, Fair Play Cabaret Review 76. Carleton to Gallagher, 25 April 1927 p. 3. and 10 October 1927; Statement to police 88. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, by BLF organiser Jackson, 17 October 1927, pp. 209 and 199, Butlin. 1928; Craig to Gallagher, 12 November 89. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, 1927, Fryer. November 1927, pp. 202-3, Butlin. 77. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, 11 90. QIG, March 1931, p. 55; June 1933, November 1927, p. 200, Butlin; QIG, 24 p. 212; June 1935, p. 98; ABJQ, July November 1927, p. 733. 1936, p. 21. 78. QIG, 24 January 1928, p. 13; WW, 1 91. DS, 14 March 1927, p. 4c. April 1927, p. 3; Carleton to Gallagher, 1 July, 3 August and 15 December 1927, * * * Fryer. 79. Carleton to Gallagher, 15 December 1927, Fryer; QIG, 24 February 1928, p. 96. Fair Play Cabaret – Brisbane 80. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, (Photo: Ted Riethmuller, personal collection) November 1927, pp. 202-3, Butlin; ABLF Queensland Executive Minutes, 11 March Think back to May/June this year and Past vict’ries turn to sand 1930, Fryer; Hall Greenland, Red Hot, imagine yourself sharing a nice meal Again we heed the call The Life and Times of Nick Origlass, with me in a beautiful setting, being To resist the hand that would Wellington Lane Press, Sydney, 1999, hilariously entertaine d by biting satire Divide us all Chapter 7. and enchanted by the harmonies of ... remember we can change 3 81. Worker, 23 February 1927, p. 4; the Brisbane Combined Unions Choir The roads we tread. ASC&JA Minutes, 24 January 1927, presenting their Fair Play Cabaret Butlin; DS, 21 April 1927, p. 5d. aimed at the Howard Government’s 82. DS, 13 November 1926, p. 6; T&LC GET THE CD!! Minutes, 9 March 1927, p 151, Mitchell. IR ‘reforms’ (read: ‘smash work From: 83. Report of Trade Union Congress, conditions back to the 1880s’), Brisbane Combined Unions Choir, ABLF Queensland Branch, Fryer. supported financially by the PO Box 3574, 84. WW, 28 January 1927, p. 3; 4 Queens land Government and the South Brisbane Qld 4101. February 1927, p. 3. Queensland Council of Unions. Many 85. WW, 25 March 1927, p. 2. folk were involved with the Choir in $15 (inc. p&p) with song words AND 86. Barbara Curthoys, ‘The Communist developing the Cabaret. Great show! a mini colour version of the above Party and the (1927-1929)’, in Labour History, May shot. You missed it? Well here’s a brief 1993, no. 64, pp. 54-69; see also Stuart taste: Quoted songs by: Macintyre, The Reds: The Communist 1&3 Sue Monk and Lachlan Hurst in Party of Australia from origins to illegality, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1998; … it’s so simple and so clear collaboration with the Choir. Beris Penrose, ‘The Communist Party and How money, wealth and power 1 2 Paul King The Eureka Son g. Trade Union Work in Queensland in the Trade on fear Yes, the Stockade! Third Period; 1928-1935’, PhD Thesis, University of Queensland, 1993. The corporate gangsters will not win 2 Bob Ross when we stand side by side

46 11 38. WW, 4 March 1927, p. 1; ABLF 58. OP&DU Minutes, 22 February 1927, Mayday in Brisbane 2006 – (Victorian Branch) General and Executive p. 318; 25 February 1927, p. 320; 2 Minutes, 7 March 1927, Butlin Archives, March 1927, p. 321-2, Butlin. an historic event Australian National University, Z398, 59. O.P&D.U. Minutes, 2 April 1929, p. Box 17. 284, Butlin. 39. DS, 14 March 1927, p. 1h; TC, 15 60. Worker, 9 February 1927, p. 4; February 1927, p. 5f; DS, 21 March 1927, ABJQ, March 1927, p. 21. p. 4; WW, 18 March 1927, p. 3, and 8 61. ABJQ, March 1927, p. 22. April 1927, p. 1. 62. WW, 25 February 1927, p. 3; 40. Carleton to Gallagher, 14 February Carleton to Gallagher, 24 February 27, 1927, Fryer. Fryer. 41. ABJQ, February 1927, p. 33. 63. T&LC Minutes, 7 March 1927, p. 42. ABJQ, February 1927, p. 34. 151, Mitchell; Mahon and Wootton to 43. T&LC Minutes, 15 February 1927, Commissioner, 7, 9 & 11 March 1927, p. 150, Mitchell. QSA; DS, 14 March 1927: 1h & 4c-d. 44. DS, 17 March 1927, p 1. 64. DS, 21 March 1927, p. 4c-e; WW, 25 45. Mahon to Commissioner, 17 March 1927, p. 3; 1 April 1927: 3 and 26 February 1927, QSA. April 1929, p. 1. 46. Carleton to Gallagher, 2 February 65. Handlin to Commissioner, 21 August 1927, Fryer. 1927, QSA. 47. WW, 4 February 1927, p. 3 and 11 66. WW, 1 April 1927, p. 3; DS, 17 February 1927, p. 3. March 1927, p. 1h; ABLF Federal 48. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, Council Minutes, pp. 202-3, Butlin. 1927, p. 200. 67. ASC&JA Minutes, 16 February 49. Operative Painters’ and Decorators’ 1926, Butlin. Union (hereafter OP&DU) Minutes, 8 68. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, This photograph, taken by Grahame Garner in 1965, shows that only some of the April 1927, p. 329, Butlin Archives, November 1926, pp. 129-30, Butlin; Australian National University, Z392, OP&DU Minutes, 5 November 1926, p. goals of the union movement have been achieved. Box 73. 301, Butlin. 50 . OP&DU Minutes, 28 January 1927, 69. ASC&JA Minutes, 16 February p. 313, Butlin. 1927, Butlin. Today’s news is to-morrow’s history. On that day in Barcaldine 1,340 51. OP&DU Minutes, 25 February 1927, 70. ASC&JA Minutes, 2 April 1927; On Mayday in Brisbane this year people marched: in Brisbane in 2006 p. 320; 24 April 1927, p. 331, Butlin. OP&DU Minutes, 25 March 1927, p. 328, labour history was made when on the Labour Day holiday on 1 May 52. OP&DU Minutes, 11 February 1927, Butlin. thousands of unionists and their many more took to the streets. The p. 313; 11 March 27, p. 325, Butlin. 71. Carleton to Gallagher, 25 April families marched in record numbers Queensland Council of Unions, 53. ASC&JA Minutes, 21 February 1927, Fryer. through city streets. They were planning a demonstration in 1927, Butlin. 72. Carleton to Gallagher, 25 April enjoying the beautiful spring sunshine opposition to Canberra’s anti-union 54. ASC&JA Minutes, 24 January 1927, 1927, Fryer; QIG, 24 June 1927, p. 435; and celebrating worker's legislation hoped that 20,000 would 12 April 1927 and 2 May 1927, Butlin. Carleton to Gallagher, 14 May 1927, but also protesting against changes in attend. This number was well 55. ASC&JA Minutes, 15 March 1927, Fryer. Butlin. 73. Brisbane Courier, 19 April 1927, p. Industrial Relations legislation. Work exceeded. 56. OP&DU Minutes, 2 March 1927, p. 3; DS, 14 April 1927, p. 5d; QIG, July Choices has put in jeopardy all the 323, Butlin. 1928, p. 414. gains the working class has achieved The tradition of celebrating labour 57. OP&DU Minutes, 22 February 1927, 74. ABJQ, March 1929, p. 38; QIG, since the first Australian Mayday movement achievements and voicing p. 318; ABLF Federal Council Minutes, October 1928, p. 607; ABLF Federal march that was held in Barcaldine unionists’ aspirations on the Labour November 1927, p. 200, Butlin. Council Minutes, November 1928, Butlin. during the shearers' strike in 1891. Day holiday is well established in

12 45 7. Anne Smith, ‘The Rail Strike, 1925’, (Queensland Branch) Papers, Fryer Brisbane where the first march took Labour History Association, Grahame in D. J. Murphy (ed.), The Big Strikes Library, University of Queensland, UQFL place in 1893. The history of this has placed his collection of Mayday (Queensland 1889-1965), University of 166, 1 (8); TC, 15 February 1927, p. 5e-g; tradition is a turbulent one and a and Peace Movement negatives in the Queensland Press, Brisbane, 1983, pp. 21 February 1927, p. 4g. study of it is well worthwhile because library for the benefit of all of us. 164-73; Kett Kennedy, ‘William 19. Carleton to Gallagher, 27 January it touches on most of the political and McCormack: Forgotten Labor Leader’, in 1927, Fryer. Dennis Murphy (ed.), Premiers of 20. ABJQ, February 1927, pp. 33 & 36; industrial issues at the heart of the One such photograph [see p 12 – Ed] Queensland, University of Queensland Brisbane Courier, 3 March 1927, p. 12e. workers’ movement. In exploring this taken by Grahame 1965 reminds us Press, Brisbane, 2003, pp. 171-75; see 21. T&LC Disputes Committee Minutes, tradition researchers will now be able that only some of the goals of the also E. M. Higgins, ‘Queensland Labor: 31 January 1927, Mitchell; ABJQ, March to view hundreds of Mayday photos union movement have been achieved. Trade Unionists Versus Premiers’, in 1927, pp. 22-23. taken by Grahame Garner between Historical Studies, Australia and New 22. DS, 14 January 29, p. 6d; Editorial, the years 1963 to 1971 in the Fryer Redreunion Zealand, May 1960, vol. IX, no. 34, pp. 18 March 1927. Library. Assisted by the Brisbane 140-55; A. A. Morrison, ‘Militant Labour 23. ABLF Federal Council Minutes, in Queensland, 1912-1927’, in Journal of November 1927, p. 199, Butlin Archives, the Royal Australian Historical Society, Australian National University, N130/1; November 1952, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 209- WW, 25 March 1927, p. 2. 34. 24. TC, 15 February 1927, p. 5f; 8. Architectural and Building Journal McCormack asked the union leaders how of Queensland (hereafter ABLJ), March they were ‘going to reconcile their present 1927, pp. 22-23. demand for 40 hours with a demand for a 9. ABJQ, March 1932, p. 15. higher basic wage. Did not that suggest 10. QIG, October 1926, p. 843; ABJQ, that the unions were getting out of their February 1927, p. 39. depth?’, ABQJ, March 1927, pp. 24 & 26. 11. QIG, January 1920, p. 29. 25. DS, 24 February 1927, p. 4d; WW, 12. QIG, January 1920, p. 29. 25 February 1927, p. 3. 13. ABJQ, February 1927, pp. 33-41. 26. DS, 14 March 1927, p. 4c-d. 14. TC, 15 February 1927, p. 5f. 27. ASC&JA Minutes, 29 January 1927, 15. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters Butlin. & Joiners of Australasia (hereafter 28. ABJQ, February 1927, p. 39. ASC&JA) State Executive Minutes, 27 29. ABJQ, February 1927, p. 38; QIG, April 1927 and 2 May 1927, Butlin 24 March 1927, pp. 160-61. Archives, Australian National University, 30. WW, 11 February 1927, p. 3; ABJQ, Z392, Box 64. February 1927, p. 41. 16. Trades & Labour Council (hereafter 31. ABJQ, March 1927, p. 19; Worker, T&LC) Minutes, 9 February 1927, p. 149, 23 February 1927, p. 4. Mitchell Library, FM4/768-777; WW, 11 32. ABJQ, March 1927, p. 19. February 1927, p. 3; ABJQ, March 1927, 33. DS, 17 January 1927, p. 1a-b. p. 19. 34. Black, Carmel, ‘The Origins of 17. TC, 15 February 1927, p. 5f; P. C. Unemployment Insurance in Queensland, Mahon to Police Commissioner, 15 1919-1922’, in Labour History, May Builders Labourers opposing Work Choices legislation – Exhibition Grounds - January 27, General Correspondence, 1991, no. 60, pp. 34-50. Mayday 2006. Photo from Redreunion Police Department, Queensland State 35. ABJQ, March 1927, p. 22. Archives (hereafter QSA), RS113214. 36. ABJQ, March 1927, pp. 22-24; 18. Stan Gallagher to George Carleton, Worker, 23 February 1927. p. 4. 23 January 1927, Australian Builders’ 37. ASC&JA Minutes, 14 March 1927, Labourers Federation (hereafter ABLF) Butlin.

44 13

'this woman is harmless' by Ynes Sanz for Eva Robinson née Julius

here's a black and white photo of a woman getting into a car here's a photo of the woman getting out of a car here's a photo of the woman standing next to a car here's a photo of the same elderly woman walking away from a car here's another photo of the same elderly woman getting into a car squinting here's a photo of the same elderly woman getting into the now familiar FJ Holden here's a photo of the same elderly woman getting into the car and clutching the door trim for support Humphrey McQueen back at UQ, May 2006. Photo from Redreunion. here's a photo of the same elderly woman leaving the same car with her rubber-tipped walking stick Endnotes here's a photo of the same elderly woman opening the door of her car machinery. He contended that ‘over- capitalisation of industry in Queensland’ in a plain dress home made for her heavy body 1. Commonwealth Arbitration Reports, was ‘greatly responsible for the 1914, vol. 7, pp. 226ff.; Queensland unemployment. It is well known that here's a photo of the same elderly woman getting into a taxi Industrial Gazette (hereafter QIG), many companies are over-paying with a dainty wristwatch manicured hands and a white handbag September 1919, p. 584; November 1919, dividends through over-capitalisation.’ p. 789; March 1921, p. 231. (Report of Conference: 14 June 1929, of in this underexposed photo of the same elderly woman 2. Daily Standard (hereafter DS), 21 trade union leaders with Minister for getting into the usual car (or getting out of it) March 1927, p. 4c-d; Workers Weekly Labour, H. E. Sizer, p. 16) Carleton’s her face is strained (hereafter WW), 26 April 1929, p. 1. remarks suggested some acquaintance 3. Toowoomba Chronicle (hereafter with Marx’s analysis of the organic TC) 15 February 1927, p. 5 e-g. composition of capital. (Capital, I, p. 574) in this photo 4. , Capital, I, Foreign the woman is looking steadily into the lens Carleton might have acquired this Languages Publishing House, Moscow, approach at classes conducted by the 1958, Parts III to V; WW, 4 February Plebs League, which his union supported. in this photo 1927, p. 3; TC, 15 February 1927, p. 5f. 6. T. W. McCawley, Industrial you wouldn't expect to be able to see all the shelves of files 5. In 1929, the BLF State Secretary, Arbitration, Government Printer, George Carleton, saw beyond the alarms Brisbane, 1924. about labourers being displaced by

14 43 misguided. The failings were press for a 40 -hour week for all in this photo threefold. The first concerned workers. Most Australians had to wait you can almost hear the clicks on the line political nous. As Carleton admitted until 1947, when the Federal to the BLF Federal Conference in Arbitration Court granted the in this last photo November: ‘a grave mistake had been reduction under pressure from the is the photographer's shadow made in depending upon the Labor ACTU, which had called for a you can see it stretching beyond the frame government.’89 The militants had national stoppage to be followed up to stain the ground at our feet been oblivious to the Psalmist’s by workers’ refusing to come in on * * * warning not to place their trust in Saturday mornings – a reprise of the National Archive of Australia ASIO surveillance photo collection: princes. The second weakness was Queensland action. The difference Title ASIO surveillance photograph of Eva Robinson, Series the want of preparation. The defeat was that the unions had grounded number A9626 Control symbol 120 Contents date range1939 - demonstrated how right the advocates their claim in evidence and unity. 1954 Access status Open Location Canberra Barcode no 7883480 of research, education and agitation had been in January. Finally, nothing The length and intensity of the had been gained by the duplicity in working week is determined by the wording the ballot question. On the relative strengths of the contending contrary, the results from a vote to classes, industrially and ideologically. strike might have convinced officials The 1927 dispute in the Queensland of the need for better organisation. At building industry demonstrated how least, the unions would not have lost an industrial tribunal buttressed by the moral authority over those who the Executive arm of government voted ‘No’. could organise Messrs Construction Capital and disorganise the The tug -of-war over the 40-hour proletariat. When the unions were week lasted another 20 years. Early in about to capitulate, one of their 1931, amendments to the Industrial leaders, J. Read, admitted that, Act allowed the rationing of work to although they had undertaken ‘a limit unemployment. Three years revolutionary strike against the later, the Court rejected a claim from capitalist class, … they were not almost all of the State’s unions for a organised to carry on such a 30 -hour week, although it favoured stupendous fight.’91 Their defeat was ‘spreading the available work.’ A another reminder that, for as long as new Building Trades Award in 1935 the capitalist class retains state power, allowed for a 40-hour week on-site, direct action alone can not proceed but with the set weekly pay reduced far or succeed for long . This poem is about Eva Robinson who came from a well-known Brisbane by one -eleventh. In 1936, the building Julius family of communist intellectuals. She and her husband Albert Robinson unions thought that the four hours pay * * * were part of the struggle from the thirties to the late 1970s. It was a common ought to be restored while the experience for activists of all kinds to be tailed, photographed and have their employers wanted a return to the 44 90 phones tapped by Special Branch police. Much of that surve illance material is hours. The Australian Council of now in the public domain via the National Archives of Australia Security and Trade Unions (ACTU) called for a Intelligence collection. The title is a quotation from a note scrawled on her stoppage on 15 September 1937 to ASIO file - someone disagreed so they kept on watching her into her old age ... Ynes Sanz 42 15 Communists had pointed to the Conclusion capitalist implosion before the epiphenomena of the Wall Street collapse in October 1929. The failure of the 1927 push for shorter hours presaged a run of Later that year, the Communists defeats for workers in every industry twisted their new line from a across Australia. By 1930, the denunciation of Labor leaders as proletariat had been stripped of its ‘fakirs’ into the charge that they were capacity to resist. Pain-filled ‘social fascists’: socialist in name but 87 organisation, girded by a Leninised fascist in action. To call Communist Party, rebuilt the McCormack any kind of socialist was confidence essential to improve to do him too much honour. He wages and conditions. As part of that opposed not only Communists but process, the debate renewed over also , which he had whether trade unions were an expunged from the Party’s list of appropriate vehicle for initiatives methods. In early 1927, the against the state. Queensland Labor administration had not been fascist but the arm of a By April 1927, the only building bourgeois grappling with workers in Queensland entitled to a a fiscal crisis and facing down a five -day week were Seven Day challenge to capitalism’s legal and Adventists who had gained that political order. The Labor leaders dispensation before the dispute began. delivered what capital needed in the Late in 1927, the BLF Federal circumstances. Perhaps McCormack Conference gave members in New fancied himself as another strongman South Wales permission to work 44 in the mould of Mussolini. Yet, to hours in five days. This decision was associate McCormack’s ruthlessness an affront to the sacrifices of their during 1927 with the fascist solution Queensland comrades. It also showed to the inter-war crisis in world that the seventy-year old principle of capitalism is to misunderstand the Eigh t-Hour Day was not inviolate. nature of democracy in a normal class Would the Queenslanders have fared dictatorship. better had they negotiated for a five- day week of 42 hours, as Carleton I might have managed one, but I cannot manage two. * told his Federal Council had been adopted by several employers?88

Alternatively, should the Queensland Architectural and Building Journal of Queensland 10 February 1927, p. 42 building unions have avoided the confrontation? Direct action for a shorter week was not in itself

16 41 miniscule Communist Party to Party at the 1929 elections by 39 How Labor governed before and after 83 abandon its attempts to steer the Lessons from Defeat: to 21. 1926 is sketched. The dispute is Labor Party in Queensland towards the 1927 Claim for a traced through the problems created socialism. From Sydney, the CPA’s Some militants did set up Left- by the contentious nature of the ballot dominant figure, Jack Kavanagh, 40-hour Week by Wing Committees which held by the Building Trades Group favoured moving away from Labor in contested five seats. These ‘Left- Queensland Building (BTG), which added to the confusion Queensland. Under his guidance, Labor/Communist’ candidates Industry Unions about a trade -off between shorter Workers Weekly applied this lesson to garnered 3,194 votes between hours and wages. The ragged and the turmoil inside the NSW Labor them. In Paddington, the left-wing precipitate start to the stoppage was Party. An Editorial advised everyone independent won Humphrey McQueen followed by the lock-out, de- to join Queensland’s Trade Union 28.36 per cent as the sole registrations and the denial of Electoral League ‘without delay’, opponent for the sitting Labor Unemployment Insurance, which before moving onto the Communist member. For the seat of Brisbane, required the unions to collect relief Party: ‘There are no Communists O put not your trust in princes … the Communist Miles took 4.8 per funds, with uneven results. The outside the Communist Party.’85 for there is no help in them. cent which was the same account then notes the weakness in Psalm 146 percent age as a Left-Labor man picketing contrasted with the vigour Union-bashing by the Labor won in a neighbouring electorate. in disciplining wayward members. government coincided with a The sample was too small and the Summary The collapse is tracked across the reformulation of strategy by the results too uneven for the A 44 -hour week became all but State. international communist movement. Communist Party of Australia universal for workers under Early in 1928, the two Australian (CPA) to discern whether the Queensland Awards from 1 July The aftermath is examined from four delegates to the Red International of label ‘Communist’ was a liability. 1925. The building trades already angles, two industrial and two Labour Unions returned from its enjoyed the shorter week. They political. First, the dissolution and fourth conference in Moscow with the The Red Road moved to retain that advantage by remaking of the Building Trades ‘Queensland Resolution’, which Miles had chronicled the Labor requesting 40 hours. On being Group is presented within the dream encouraged the Party in that State to government’s outrages for the refused, four of them decided to of a single industry union. The second put more distance between itself and Communist Party’s Workers absent themselves on Saturday industrial aspect specifies the the Labor Party.86 The CPA did not Weekly. His had begun by mornings from January 1927. Three responses of the four unions. On the need orders from Moscow to see that dismissing the postponements of blows befell them: the employers political front, the investigation the Right-wing Labor leaders were the half-day stoppage as ‘funk’ locked them out; the Unemployment shows how the dispute deepened the enemies of the working class. Rather, and the case for delay as ‘bunk’. Council denied them relief; and the divide between the Industrial unions the behaviour of the McCormack When the government blocked Board of Arbitration deregistered and the AWU-dominated Labor regime during the Building Trades unemployment insurance to the them. The unions held out until 19 government. Finally, that tension dispute added to the willingness of unionists, he cut to the chase: March. added to the impetus for the the Queensland Reds to implement ‘Thus the reformist legislation of Communist Party to end its courting the ‘Queensland Resolution’. social reform under capitalism Outline of the Labor Party. The article breaks down before the hard facts The article opens by recalling the concludes by projecting the unions’ The next stage in the evolution of of class struggle.’84 prominence of building unions in the strategy against the il-logic of capital CPA strategy came with the Miles’s experiences of the struggle for shorter hours. Three and their expectations of an easy win. Comintern’s recog nition in 1928 that McCormack administration arguments for a shorter week are metropolitan capitalism was entering during 1927 encouraged the considered against the need of the * another deflationary crisis. The employers to control labour time.

40 17 the dispute committee of the Building Governing Labor official dinner. They even returned 81 ‘The Boon’ Trades Group during 1927. The The clash between McCormack and donations from the politicians. appointment of this Communist the Railway Union during the rail The Australian labour movement indicated a militant temper among strike of August 1927 has become the Since 1925, Queensland’s industrial cherished no victory more than the 8- building trade officials. When the stuff of legend. According to that unions had been trying to set up a Hour Day initiated by stonemasons in half-day stoppages began in January version, although the ARU lost badly, new political formation, though not a 1855 -56. Some building workers in 1927, Miles was back working as a the workers took revenge by turfing separate party. Early in 1926, a Queensland had achieved a 44 -hour stonemason. Although his union held out McCormack’s crew at the May ‘Minority Labor Movement’ emerged week around 1880 by arguing that aloof, he refused Saturday work. This 1929 polls. The Labor vote slumped ‘to clean the Labour Movement of the 2 white men needed more rest in sultry solidarity earned him the sack. His from 48 to 40 per cent, its lowest in reactionary element which at present climes. The reduced hours were not pivotal place in organising the twenty years. True or false, this chain controls.’ After this body observed universally until 1919 when unions’ campaign makes his of evidence omits one prior cause of disappeared, the T&LC sponsored a the Industrial Court confirmed them understanding of the hours’ question working-class discontent with November meeting of the ‘Industrial in its Building Trades Award. That worthy of analysis. No official had a McCormack, namely, his harshness Section’ to promote union policies year, and again in 1922, the Court keener grasp of the issues. during the 40-hours dispute. Six inside and beyond the parliamentary refused those unions a 40 -hour week. 1 months before his clash with the wing. The Industrials also tried to In advancing the claim for shorter ARU, he had applied comparable reform the Labor Party from within hours, Miles accepted that reforms in measures to br eak the building trade by supporting militants against sitting In March 1923, Queensland’s Labor- 82 in-Politics Convention instructed the capitalism could be no more than militants. members in preselection ballots. Theodore cabinet to legislate for 44 partial and transitory. For instance, Little came of that effort either, hours. The Premier argued that wage rises chased prices. The Labor Party Branches and affiliated beyond another layer of distrust. neither the government nor the State’s struggle for shorter hours, therefore, unions protested to the Queensland economy could afford that reform. took precedence over wage demands: Central Executive (QCE) about the After the McCormack government’s After months of turmoil, Theodore A pay increase would soon be government’s behaviour during the assault on the ARU, the BLF joined agreed to introduce 44 hours, which whittled away. By contrast, a cut in building trade dispute. Another mark thirty-seven unions in October 1927 took effect from 1 July 1925. The hours was harder to remove, and of the bitterness that the industrial ‘to discuss relations between the building trades responded by would be defended more ferociously. unions felt towards the Labor Party unions and the workers’ political claiming a five -day week of 40 ho urs. Hence, the demand for 40 hours was appeared just after the dispute began. party’. Only five or six dissented a direct challenge, not only to The QCE asked the Carpenters and from the condemnation of 3 McCormack and the QCE over the Why a shorter week? Arbitration, but to capitalism. Joiners for donations to relieve the railway lock-out. Forty-four voted in Proponents of the 40 hours presented miners’ wives in the UK in the wash- Miles did not acknowledge that the favour of dumping the Premier and three reasons for their claim. A up from the General Strike; the union force of that challenge also meant that his gang. The meeting divided over shorter week would (a) create jobs (b) regretted that it could not oblige capitalists had to be more ferocious in why the Labor government had constrain the rate of exploitation (c) because the lock-out meant that it response. If they could not prevent deserted the workers. By 36 to 28, a reduce exhaustion. Whether shorter needed all its resources to fight its the reduction in the working week, majority ‘declared that the failure of hours shared the work depended on own Labor government. The Brisbane they reacted by intensifying their the Labor Party and the QCE is due to how the other two factors played out. Branch called for a ballot on whether discipline over labour time. For reformism and affirmed the class to disaffiliate. So outraged were the example, they pushed for piece work, struggle as the basis of political The stonemason, J. B. Miles, put Industrial unions by the Labor another device for paying only for the action.’ Notwithstanding this rhetoric, forward that trio of arguments when government’s behaviour that they labour time that was adding value. the delegates defeated a motion to he became the unpaid organiser for cancelled the 192 7 Labour Day Miles recognised that technical procession in May, along with the stand candidates against the Labor

18 39 77 BLF work, not Plumbers’. this move, the loss of the Northern changes had increased profits by Master Builders Association (MBA) zone to the AWU became permanent stepping up the pace of operations so in 1882 to sort out squabbles among These wins for the BLF were small in 1929 when the BLF accepted the that the workers needed more rest. He themselves, notably over price- compensation for the Board’s loss of work above Mackay. failed to connect previous reductions cutting. They also reacted to the granting, on 14 December 1927, the in hours with that intensification. Nor workers’ demands for the eight -hour AWU coverage over builders The costs from an ill-prepared action did he point out that a reduction in day and a 44 -hour week. Splits labourers’ work in Cairns, were institutional as well as hours did not create job opportunities persisted between the inner-city and Mackay. On 1 July 1927, the individual. Carleton’s report to the if output were maintained by builders around the MBA, who Board served notice on the BLF that Federal Conference in November intensification. He told a Toowoomba controlled the larger projects, and the AWU had sought preference in 1927 regretted that ‘the union had meeting ‘that improved methods of members of the Suburban Master North Queensland. Carleton asked gone back financially in consequence production would enable the building Builders Association, who were more Gallagher to organise a petition from of the recent strike.’ The Branch employers to give them 40 hours often running up houses on spec. The the Townville members, recalling that could pay only £30 of its £160 without suffering any loss’.4 This capitalists were divided further by thirty-eight labourers had earlier sustentation fees to the Federal office. suggestion ignored the forces of trade and locality. This diversity of signed one to ward off the AWU. By By March 1929, funds were so scarce competition that compelled capital to interests was handled by a number of now, most of them had gone across to that the BLF could not meet its rent at innovate. By stressing the political bodies: the Queensland Employers’ ! the enemy. Webb intimated to the Trades Hall, owing 54, more contest against Arbitration, he Association, the Timber Merchants Carleton that he would never have than any other occupant. Although avoided the economic roots of the Association, the Brisbane and District ruled in favour of the AWU had the the Left led the BLF until the mid- struggle between and within classes.5 Joinery Association, the Master BLF not got itself deregistered. As far 1940s, apart from a take -over by an Plumbers and the Master Painters. unsavoury crew in 1934 -35, the as the Board was concerned, the BLF Messrs Construction Capital The employers remained divided was ‘dead’. Preference would go to Branch never regained the full because they competed with each The struggles by workers make no well-behaved unions.78 measure of its militancy. 80 other for the surplus value added by sense outside the needs of the system the workers, while striving to swindle that exploits them. In Capital , Marx To block the AWU, the BLF in each other out of the resultant profit. provided much of what we need to Brisbane held a Summons Meeting on Political shakeouts know about the experience of workers 22 December to apply for re- The absence of a single organisation through his analysis of the discipline registration. Carleton also hoped to among employers had not that capitalists must impose on the win back the territorial coverage. He disadvantaged them for as long as the Historians could pass over the 1927 labour power that they buy. That expected the re-registration to be machinery of the state was in the Building Trades action as no more approach also recognises the state as straightforward since the MBA would hands of politicians sympathetic to than a clash of wills and poor union an instrument of class power. Hence, not oppose the application. The their needs. With the election of a organisation had the dispute not the present account takes up the needs employers, he claimed, now progressive Labor government in happened at a moment when all of the employers. A materialist recognised that they had made a 1915, capitalists could no longer rely sections of the Queensland labour investigation of how capital expands mistake in pushing for de -registration on those instruments or agents of the movement were realigning must proceed through the specifics of of the BLF since the labourers had state to serve their interests in the themselves. In challenging the Labor sector, time and place. The ‘misbehaved ourselves more’ when short to medium term. In particular, government, the defeat of the circumstances of Messrs Construction outside the Court. Registration was Labor replaced the Industrial Peace Building Trades contributed to a Capital in Queensland in the 1920s secured on 28 December, by Act that had been enforced after the redirection of the miniscule extended from their organisations to accepting the same conditions as the 1912 General Strike. To the Communist Party across the country. climatic and economic conditions. Carpenters, namely to readmit the Presidency of the Industrial Court, expelled and to remit fines.79 Despite Labor appointed T. W. McCawley, a Contractors in Brisbane had set up the 38 19 disciple of the British champion of which had replaced the Industrial Townsville BTG puzzled Carleton. 72 thundery squalls and their National Insurance, William Court. The President was a disappointment to meet on 22 March. 6 Beveridge. progressively-minded judge, William Painters Did their T&LC delegate, Keen, Webb. The third position became a The Painters formed a Joint Council remind them that he had called for Before the 1920s, the organisations of sinecure for retiring AWU with the Master Painters because more research, agitation and Queensland building employers had Secretaries, starting with W. J. most of the work was on renovation. organisation before they withheld 75 been under-resourced. Their Dunstan. The OP&DU, therefore, withdrew their labour? associations got along with voluntary from the BTG which had opened officials who relied on their own The achievement of the shorter week negotiations with the MBA. One activist had already defected to office staff to conduct the and more pay proved to be the last Meanwhile, the Rockhampton sub- the AWU ‘octopus’. By October, the correspondence and keep the books. benefits wrung from the branch strayed so far along its own sub -branch had only three members By 1927, the MBA Secretary, H. H. parliamentary party. Yet, those path that the State Branch in Brisbane in work; the rest were either in the Gayford, had brought Messrs victories encouraged the industrial came close to closing it down in May. AWU, or unemployed. Gallagher’s Construction Capital closer together unions to expect more of the same. In August, the Secretary travelled misappropriation of £41 during the to rival the organisation achieved by The McCormack government did north to explain the situation as one next year compounded the loss of their labour force. For instance, in more for the building employers than step towards rebuilding the union. spirit. The BLF’s situation in Cairns 1922, the MBA, in association with they could have done for themselves. The Board did not reregister the was slightly better with ten members, the Institute of Architects, backed a The unions underrated the Premier’s OP&DU until May 1928.73 mostly assisting brickies or plasterers. monthly periodical, the Architectural determination. He accused their The carpenters’ labourers would not and Building Journal of Queensland . leaders of ‘cheeky insolence’, of Bricklayers join the BLF because they feared the Behind them, stood the state. talking ‘rot’, and of setting By contrast, the Bricklayers’ AWU’s influence over the State themselves up ‘as Poobahs of what Labour Bureau, which allocated 8 executive continued to antagon ise the 76 How Labor Governed the Labour platform is.’ This abuse MBA, which retaliated by cutting jobs. After a decade of Labor governments, came from more than his bully-boy their hourly rate from 1 January 1928. workers in Queensland owed as much nature, or the tussle between the The union leadership threatened to The legal standing of the BLF was in to legislation as to Industrial Awards. AWU and the industrial unions for stop working on Saturdays, but got limbo. It remained de -registered The most recent advance had come in coverage across the State. Economic little support from the rank-and-file. throughout 1927, although the 1924 with the Act to install a 44 -hour contraction gave his outlook and The Court did not re-register the Building Trades Award was in place. week. When E. G. Theodore quit the personality an institutional impetus. Bricklayers until March 1928, also Carleton told the November Federal premiership for Federal politics early restoring their Award coverage. By Conference that the President of the in 1925, the battle lines widened August, both concessions had been Board of Arbitration, Webb, had between the Industrialists and the The 40 -hours Ballot cancelled on the grounds that they warned him that the BLF would get AWU-dominated party machine. The had not kept their promises. In fact, nothing from his tribunal. Industrialists in caucus supported a Because Brisbane contained only a the union had refused to readmit a Notwithstanding this hostility, the farmer, William Gillies, to defeat third of the State’s population in professional scab named Collins. Board’s findings accorded with its AWU hard man, McCormack. Gillies contrast to the average for capital After the 1927 dispute, he had offered previous decisions about the work settled a strike by restoring 5s to the cities of 48 per cent, its building to work for less than the Award appropriate for a builder’s labourer. basic wage in September 1925. No industry contributed less to the State’s rate.74 Hence, it ruled that the construction sooner had Gillies made this product than elsewhere. During 1926, of a tin-hare course was to be paid at labourers’ rates. The BLF convinced concession than McCormack forced however, the value of building 7 Labourers the Board that petrol bowsers were him out. Gillies became a member of approvals for the metropolitan area Enough BLF members braved the Board of Trade and Arbitration, machines so that their erection was

20 37 compromise, the Federal Councillors Queensland working class did begin had reached £3.4m, due in part to the withdrawal of labour, as required by accepted that sub -branches in the its fight -back in 1934, the BTG amalgamation of all suburban law. Some staunch unionists resented State could apply for a referendum on played a leading role, publishing its municipalities into the Brisbane City this underhand approach. Yet, it the question. 69 In the meantime, the own journal from September 1934. Council in 1924. The new seems likely that rank -and-filers members could experiment with administration embarked on two would have read between the lines composite local committees. major projects, a City Hall and a and so were not deceived. second river crossing. Other building Nonetheless, the phrasing of the The Four Unions 9 The dispute had sundered the BTG activity peaked in 1926. The demand question put the unions at a moral from the start. Defeat splintered what for building workers encouraged six disadvantage with some of their remained. Hence, the BTG itself had Such solidarity as remained at the end of the building trades unions to renew members, and at a legal one before to be revived before an industry-wide of the dispute shrivelled in the their claim for a 40 -hour week. This the Board of Arbitration. union could be advanced. On 4 April following weeks. Late in April, urban splurge ran counter to the 1927, the BTG remnant asked the Carleton reported that ‘the impact of the drought, which had cut The officials had sought to get around T&LC to be allowed to carry on with disintegration seems to have set in revenu es. A budget shortfall led the the requirements for engaging in an only three affiliates: the Bricklayers, with a vengeance amongst the cabinet to reduce expenditures by almost legal strike. The right to strike Labourers and Painters. Two weeks building trade Unions.’71 The four squeezing government employees. in Queensland was ambivalent. The later, the ASC&JA delegates had the unions went their own ways to cope Arbitration Act did not require a BTG wound up. By then, the Painters with internal ructions. In February 1926, the unions applied union to register. Once it became part had withdrawn from the T&LC. to the Board of Trade and Arbitration of the system, it was obliged to for 40 hours, with no reduction in the conduct a ballot to gain approval for a

The Queensland BLF called for the Carpenters weekly rate of pay. The Board cessation of work. A majority in BTG to be re-organised along The return to work was not a week rejected the claim in September, favour of withdrawing labour did not ‘economic and industrial lines’. It old when the Carpenters’ SMC reasoning that, if the legislature had make a strike legal.11 endorsed the continuation of Miles as unanimously agreed to apply for re- wanted to cut four hours off organiser for its dispute committee. registration. Chastised by the BTG, everyone’s working week, it would Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) The OP&DU’s Management the union agreed to delay its move for have said so itself. In response to this members were in a difficult position. Committee declined to ‘entertain’ the one week so that a collective rebuff, six of the building unions In return for preference, their union appointment of Miles as BTG approach might be made to the Board asked their rank-and-file late in 1926: had agreed in 1919 not to strike. organiser, though it had ‘no objection of Trade. However, the ASC&JA ‘Are you in favour of the forty hour Justice McCauley recognised that to his being appointed to clean up the capitulated to the conditions exacted working week?’ Of the 2,843 who preference held an extra attraction for recent dispute and will recognise our by the MBA for re-registration, by responded, 2,329 said yes. About 60 labourers. Its provision offered ‘a responsibilities in regard to same’.70 remitting fines and readmitting scabs. per cent of the 7,500 members had means of preventing an unnecessarily The BLF condemned the Carpenters not voiced any opinion. 10 Few of the large number of labourers from A year passed before the T&LC and Joiners for digging a ditch 14 per cent who voted ‘No’ had a attaching themselves to the industry’. called another BTG meeting, in mid- through which the other unions would principled objection to a shorter Henceforth, those ‘who usually March 1928. Schemes for a single now have to crawl. The Carpenters week. Rather, they were reluctant to follow the occupation’ could expect industry union continued to divert secured re-registration in early May. strike. ‘more regular employment.’12 officials who had trouble keeping the Their union was thus unable to BTG together. The onslaught of the penalise its own scabs. Unabashed, it The wording of the 1926 ballot is Three weeks into the 1927 dispute, on depression and of an anti-labour State asked the still deregistered BLF to crucial to understanding the course of 2 February, Justice Webb asked the government put paid to plans for an apply bans in Townsville on its the dispute. The officials had not union officials attending the Board’s industrial union. When the behalf. The workings of the asked their members to approve a hearing whether they would ‘now

36 21 take a secret ballot on the question, without conducting a ballot. The that result was the same as if they had united them. Sub-branches had gone submitting it separately to each officials denied ‘that they had cut their own wages by 20 per cent their own way. When the men went section of the building trades group.’ declared a strike.’ Rather, they over twelve months. Heroic defeat is back with nothing gained, the BLF Secretary Carleton asserted: alleged that the MBA had introduced small consolation, no matter how just militants looked to a single industry ‘The position would be just the same the word ‘strike’ in order to justify the cause. What can be valuable is union to bring the moderates into line. after the ballot’ because the unions their lock-out. The disingenuousness how the workers had organised their The latter hoped that a central body had been pressing for ‘a 40 -hour of this explanation became blatant actions hour by hour; how they could tighten the leash on the radicals week for some years past’. Cornered when the Federal Council required collected and distributed relief; and and communists. by Webb to declare whether he would proof of the Branch’s having polled what lessons they carried forward. ask his members ‘Are you in favour members about withdrawing their The 40-hours contest had coincided of returning to work under the labour. The SMC could forward only with an effort to revive a single award?’, Carleton could reply only the ballot paper asking carpenters Aftermath industry union. The coming that ‘[t]he Federal executive would whether they favoured a 40 -hour combi nation was to be called the 15 not agree to a ballot like that being week. Building Trades Union of taken.’ The Carpenters’ Secretary, L. The defeat affected the industrial and Queensland. The name was grander English, evaded questions about The slight -of-hand in the conduct of a the political wings of the labour than the body since only the majority rule by asking the employers ballot masked more than the movement. Among the former, the Carpenters, Painters and Labourers whether they would grant the 40 eagerness by a section of the BTG disintegrated, while individual agreed to join. Stonemasons and hours until the vote could be taken. leadership for a shorter week. Behind unions scattered or were shattered. Plasterers had not even voted. The ‘Certainly not’, shot back MBA that wish hovered a rejection of Plumbers refused to sign up. The 13 Two days after the return to work, the President McDonald. compulsory arbitration in favour of regular meeting of the Trades and Brickl ayers said they were in favour direct action. At the start of the fourth Labour Council lapsed for want of its of the principle but rejected the Dispute committee organiser Miles week of the stand -off, the Trades and quorum of forty. The officials put the version on offer. In addition, not all was forthright in his resistance to Labour Council (T&LC) low attendance down to more heavy members of the contracting unions majority rule. Union members who congratulated itself for ‘the rain. In fact, moderate unions were were supportive. Four out of ten of had never been to a meeting should pioneering effort of industrial the Painters who voted were breaking away from the T&LC, with 68 not be allowed to vote. He was ‘not unionism, fighting as a group towards the Stonemasons leading the way. On against. going to allow “scab” votes to decide the 40 hours, breaking from the the political front, the dispute further as to how they should behave. Neither Arbitration Court, realising it is only split the Labor Party leadership from At the 1926 Federal Conference of were they going to allow the minions a creation of the employing class’. the BLF, the Queenslanders had 14 more of the Industrialists. The of bosses to record their vote.’ Such Miles welcomed deregistration as a Communist Party sought to take asked that a whole day be set aside to reliance on the militancy of a break from Arbitration, praising the advantage of this development as it discuss proposals for One Industry minority indicated a failure of mass men for striking against arbitration Union in their State. The 1927 and 16 remade itself in the crisis work in the build-up to the stoppage. itself. overwhelming world capitalism. Each 1928 Conferences reaffirmed the of these aspects will now be right of the Queensland Branch to When the dispute was over, the State examined. draft local rules to prepare for its Management Committee (SMC) of All Out! integration into the new combination. the Amalgamated Society of Building Trades Grou p Carpenters & Joiners of Australasia Early in 1927, the Federal Council of (ASC&JA) had to defend itself to its The 40 -hour week claim had tested the ASC&JA refused its Queensland The form of the ballot contributed to the prospects for an industry-wide Federal Council against the charge of the shaky support for the withdrawal Branch permission to become part of having ordered a cessation of work union. The action had sundered the a single Building Trades Union. As a building trades more than it had 22 35 made such an approach during the full swing. 65 Meanwhile, the dispute of labour. Miles recalled that the Trades Award. morning. On Saturday, 12 March, committee had to sustain them and ‘Plumbers failed to reach a decision T&LC President George Lawson, as others in the same situation. and the carpenters were changeable.’ The precipitateness of the move Secretary of the Amalgamated Road Indeed, the ASC&JA tried to became apparent outside Brisbane. Transport Workers Union, instigated Miles acknowledged that to fight on, negotiate with the MBA. As a result, The Rockhampton Carpenters a conference at the Board of as some die-hards had demanded, ‘[t]he building workers then did not complained about ‘too little Arbitration to prevent more of his would have been ‘folly’. Leadership, know where they stood’. information’. Although their SMC members being turned out of work he had to admit, required an ‘orderly Notwithstanding this mud dle, the sent telegrams around Queensland on because of the dispute. Nothing retreat’. He nonetheless claimed that Bricklayers determined to move Saturday, 15 January, the Townsville eventuated. Discussions were ‘[t]he men were not beaten now if the ahead. A meeting of BTG members sub -Branch asked for instructions postponed till the next Wednesday, committee is allowed to carry on and on Thursday evening, 13 January, about the starting date. Building 16 March. 63 they return to work solid.’ Carleton supported imposing the ban from workers there did not meet until told the Federal Conference of the Saturday, 22 nd . According to a police January 22, when they voted 150 to The stoppage collapsed a day later, St BLF in November that ‘the men went report, 600 unionists attended, of 46 to end Saturday work. Not until a Patrick’s Day, Thursday, 17 March. back to work … as solid for the 40 whom 300 were likely to be affected month after the dispute had begun did Just before the end, some of the hours as when they went out.’66 This by the dispute; of the latter, 150 voted the Toowoomba BLs and Bricklayers leaders had again offered to conclusion slid around the point. to strike and 100 to wait.17 The agree not to report for work from the compromise. The MBA and the Were they solid for striking to Bricklayers’ officials thereupon following Saturday, 19 February. 18 Labor government remained achieve the shorter week, or were just announced that, irrespective of what implacable. On 19 th, the workers in favour of being granted one by the their allies decided, their members The proponents of the industrial gathered at the Trades Hall where Board or the government? would be staying away a week earlier, action had assumed that they could they voted to go back. The from 15 th — less than 36 hours away. have their whole Saturday off and Bricklayers, who met separately, also The manager at the Ipswich Rail Three other unions — the Carpenters live on their wages for the rest of the gave in. The combined meeting Workshops told the carpenters and Joiners, the Painters and the week. On Friday, 14 January, the retained Miles as organiser for the employed there that since the Builder’s Labourers — fell in behind. employers warned that if the men did BTG, voting to lift the salary ASC&JA had been de -registered, The activists had taken most of their not appear at 8 am the next day, they proposed from !5 to the !6 3s week. they were no longer unionists. The fellow members by surprise. would not be readmitted on Monday. In the wash-up, he continued to work State Secretary hit back: ‘we were a The unions alleged that they were for nothing.64 fighting Organisation a generation or ASC&JA members who were being ‘Locked Out’. Instead of more before an Arbitration Court summoned to explain why they had inconveniencing their Masters, while Miles warned unionists against came into being’. Moreover, ‘we worked on the 15 th were excused if enjoying a second full day of rest, the accepting cuts to their conditions in should be, under the circumstances, they said they had not heard when to workers found themselves without order to secure their previous more militant than ever our members start staying at home. A few had not wages. Carleton told Townsville BLF positions. He acknowledged that once have been for some time past.’67 This waited for the call. The Railways branch secretary, Stan Gallagher, that the decision to go back had been boast lost credibility as the dispute Commissioner sacked two because the extension of the dispute had been made, men would scramble to get dragged on. Its clarion rang hollow they had not come in on Saturday. ‘caused by the obstinacy of the taken on first. At the Government once the campaign ended in a rout. The SMC sought to have them Master Builders in locking out the workshops in Woolloongabba, thirty- reinstated because those stay-aways building trade workers because they four men started back on 21 March, What had the unionists to show for had been under the ‘misapprehension’ had the audacity to refrain from seven more returned on 23 rd once their sacrifice? They and their that the call extended to carpenters working on Saturday morning.’19 supplies arrived; five single men had families lost the equivalent of three employed under the Railways Award to wait until the operations were in months wages. In monetary terms, when it applied only to the Building As the employers’ spokesman,

34 23 Gayford could boast that he had hope of assisting the Building sounded less confident. At the very operating under Federal Awards? A ‘never upon any previous occasion … Trades Group, you know also that least, the divisions within the voice from the floor responded that, known the building trade employers the men handle their dispute movement allowed those who put since the Courts were the agents of to have shown such a united front.’ directly, consequently you take their self-interest first to gloss their the government, which had opposed They formed a phalanx which refused your share of the responsibility of scabbing with a defence based on any reduction in hours, ‘the men to negotiate about any point until the the strike. class interests and democracy. Either should not back down’. (In fact, the men went back to 44 hours. Protected way, the mark of scabbing was Court granted the reduction a few by the government and the Board of McCormack would have none of indelible. In April 1929, two years days later.) Speakers spurred each Arbitration, the Masters could afford what he called this ‘Jekyll-and-Hyde after the dispute had ended, the BLF other on by recalling their 1924 to sou nd well-disposed to the welfare approach’ of the T&LC towards the debated whether to discipline a good victory over the Labor government of their servants, hoping to avoid ‘bad BTG’s dispute committee and its unionist who had unwittingly gone for a 44 -hour week, and the 1925 feeling on either side’. While the Communist organiser.21 back a few days before the action had restoration of 5s to the basic wage. employers feigned reasonableness, been declared off.59 The meeting voted its ‘express the Brisbane Courier depicted At the January 13 meeting of the satisfaction’ with the BTG’s dispute ‘tyrannical’ workers ‘indulging in a BTG, a BLF delegate, Comrade committee. It condemned as lazy strike’, the success of which Keen, had seconded a three-part Collapse ‘cowardly’ any building worker who would be a ‘calamity’ for all amendment from a representative of moved inter-State during the strike .61 20 industry. the Carpenters. The pair advocated holding off until three conditions By the middle of February, the Despite this bravado, Miles reported Backing for the BTG from the T&LC were met. First, the unions had to fractures inside the unions were the ‘outlying areas doubtful’. Cairns leadership was less emphatic. On 19 research their case for the shorter showing. The T&LC Disputes would not strike, though it was January, the Council’s Disputes week in order to educate their Committee had offered to negotiate. sending aid. After Townsville voted Committee endorsed the action. The members; secondly, the officials A mass meeting at the Trades Hall on to return on the old arrangement, unionists, it said, had been locked out. needed to call shop stewards together Sunday 13 February heard calls for Carleton attributed the breakdown in Faced with the prospect of the to work out methods of action; and negotiation, which the chairman of solidarity there to a stacked meeting. unions’ loss of registration, the thirdly, organisers should attend all the T&LC Disputes Committee, the In addition, he complained that ‘job Council sought to settle. The sites with ten or more workers to Painter’s delegate R. J. Gardner, control’ was in the hands of the uncertainties at the T&LC became discuss the campaign. That these opposed ‘as a sign of weakness.’ One Masters so that the dispute committee evident once the BTG’s dispute steps had not been undertaken advocate of compromise countered by ‘cannot place men where best for the committee took charge . T&LC indicated the helter-skelter nature of pointing out that a ‘long drawn-out union’. For instance, Townsville BLF President, George Lawson, was the action. Voices cried the fight’ would weaken the men’s sub -Branch President, Handley, was a uncomfortable when McCormack amendment down with shouts of ‘No fighter but unable to get work on the 22 resolve after a settlement had been cornered him into explaining the link Delay!’ 60 biggest job, the Wintergarden reached. 62 between the T&LC and the dispute Theatre. committee led by the Communist The workers had fired their opening Carleton told the gathering that the Miles. Lawson prevaricated: shot before securing their lines of unions’ hands were tied until next By 7 March, even some bricklayers supply. The employers and the Labor week when the Federal Arbitration were asking to be taken back. That You know … as a unionist, that government were agreed on their Court decided the claim by the night, the T&LC voted 35 to 24 to when a dispute takes place some orders of battle. When the fight was Engineering Union for a 44-hour extend the ‘fighting front’. Delegates governing body must assist, and over, the BLF Secretary alleged that week. Did he hope that its rejection defeated an amendment to contact the the Trades and Labour Council ‘[t]he Master Builders were would draw in support from unions MBA. According to a police report, has taken this matter up with a unofficially told by the Premier the T&LC Disputes Committee had

24 33 One joiner found a 40 -hour job in previous to the conference being held In mid-February, Carleton told the Ipswich after being put off in He was not in a position to go on that he and the government would MBA that, in return for a 40 -hour Brisbane for not working on strike. The strike was illegal and stick to them.’ The activists were ill- week, the unions would accept ‘a Saturdays . he belonged to a society [the prepared for such a confrontation. reduction of the pay as a temporary union?, or a Masonic Lodge?], by They advocated ‘Down With expedient.’ They were hoping that the Peoples’ Courts55 which he was bound to obey the Arbitration!’, but had little sense of money thus lost would be restored a The moral authority of unionism laws of the land and at this late the forces they would be up against little later on. Their ‘present objective appeared in the willingness of some hour he would not come out as he once they went outside that system. was to get the 40 hours week.’ This members facing fines or expulsion to would be a moral coward to do so. Despite rhetoric against pollies and compromise was perilous. On the one defend themselves before their plutes, the Plebs League had not hand, it forewarned the Court, the Executives, even after their unions This defence of scabbing on the prepared its students to accept that a government and employers that a had been deregistered. These grounds of manliness inverted the Labor government would behave like concession over hours would members accepted that their officials long -standing notion that a scab was an executive committee of the guarantee a struggle over wages. At could exercise quasi-judicial not a man. Carleton would report that bourgeoisie, as Workers Weekly the same time, Carleton did not want 23 functions. The corollary was that the some tradesmen were ‘misnamed’ as quoted Marx’s warning that it must. the authorities to think that the men 57 union’s procedures accord with the ‘men’. The failure to integrate the theory of ‘were getting too much pay’. His six- rulebook and recognise the civil class rule with its practice afflicted bob -each-way approach highlighted rights of members. The solicitors for Others who had kept working raised the most experienced militants. the failure of the activists to clarify the Operative Painters’ and political arguments. Because the the terms of their claim. The offer to Decorators’ Union (OP&DU) advised union’s leaders boasted that they were Wages/Hours accept a pay cut in order to achieve not aiming at the 40 hours so much as the 40 hours divided the troops. Miles its SMC to collect evidence of In addition to the difficulties from the scabbing from pickets, and to give the attacking the Labor government and validity of the ballot and the mix-ups abused the editor of the Labor Daily accused fourteen-days notice to destroying arbitration, one member over the starting date, confusion also Standard for headlining that the attend a Summons Meeting. 56 refused to stay home because his arose about the relationship between employers were ‘considering’ a loyalty to the working class lay with the sho rter hours and the weekly working week of 44 hours in five The SMC of the ASC&JA conferred those institutions. The allegation of wage. The 1925 claim to the Board days. This intervention, Miles 25 its powers to fine and expel to its sub- the strike’s ‘illegality’ was heard had called for no reduction in pay on alleged, had sown confusion. If so, branches. The Brisbane City sub- more often than pleas of not seeing the granting of a 40-hour week. The the Press report only added to the Branch took action against those one’s children starve. The dissenters ballot had made no mention of uncertainties already created by the working 44 hours. Most of those accepted the principle of ‘majority whether the workers would surrender four unions. summoned failed to appear. A rule’. They countered by pointing out four hours pay in exchange for free- number who did not show were fined that the leadership had refused to hold time on Saturday morning. Even if To make matters worse, the activists £10, more than a week’s wage. Two a ballot on whether to withdraw the Masters did not oppose the claim, themselves re-wrote policy in mid- 58 who presented themselves were labour. the workers stood to lose earnings. stream. On 26 February, after the expelled for defiance. Was it easier to Some tradesmen might have been dispute had been running for six punish workers than bosses? One Both the stay-puts and the militants able to bear that loss. The most weeks, a mass meeting voted to defaulter fronted the OP&DU to were in an unusual situation. Each poorly paid of the labourers could demand 44 -hours pay for 40 hours declare that ‘the union could do what side laid claim to solidarity and to not. Miles admitted that ‘there was an work if that demand were not granted it liked’ since ‘he was going to work principle. Had the OP&DU element of misunderstanding because by 12 March. Even before that expiry and nothing would make him alter his Management Committee won a vote they were not demanding the same date had been set, the unions were opinion.’ Another was more to strike, the defendants would have wages for a 40-hour week.’24 buckling. Hence, at the moment when apologetic, if no less determined: clarity of purpose was most needed,

32 25 the militants further muddied their De-registration Organisation (WWO) met on 28 endorsed the BTG call on 9 position. Moreover, those still out January to gather support, Miles November 1926 for direct action. The were divided over whether to adopt could note no better than a ‘good determination voiced by the the wage demand. 26 If the swings attendance’. This poor showing, he metropolitan officials lost out The Board of Trade and Arbitration between hesitancy and haste in early resisted defiance of its Award. When acknowledged, meant that the next elsewhere in the State. The January had been disorienting, the meeting would have to try ‘to arouse Rockhampton sub -Branch was not the unions appeared before it on 2 47 backing -and-filling in mid-March February, they were surprised to more women’. Matters improved willing to risk losing Award over how to balance wages with confront all three members. The after the WWO activists met with the protections. Further north at Mackay, hours was far more debilitating officials had hoped that the President, unionists’ wives to explain the many carpenters continued to work. because solidarity was dissolving. dispute. The WWO also provided Bowen, by contrast, was unanimous Judge Webb, would facilitate a discussion with the Masters, while the refreshments for the men at in support. At Innisfail, the sub- As a corollary to the unions’ shifting threepence, ‘ran socials and were a branch was ‘fairly solid’, but some unions would get away with offering 48 about over the weekly rate for 40 ‘no compromise’.28 Instead, the great help.’ The women later members had ‘to be dictated to stay hours, they had not thought through complained that the BTG dispute loyal’; a few were open in their officials were put to ordeal by fire. 53 the place of overtime. The Proserpine committee always left their shared betrayal. sub -branch of the Carpenters wanted meeting room in a mess.49 The employers sought to de-register to know whether the demand for 40 the four striking unions and to On the metropolitan fringe, Wynnum hours meant that any time beyond suspend the Building Trades Award. Solidarity proved uneven between voted to ‘take no action … but to that total should be paid at penalty The Board declined to be and within the unions, as evidenced stand firm for Arbitration methods.’ rates. The SMC took this request as provocative. Webb hesitated to de- by the Painters and the Carpenters. Suspicious of how decisions were asking whether it was permissible to register a union because of the The former had voted 359 to 56 in being reached, Wynnum sent a work overtime at all, wiring back: favour of a 40 hours week. At the ‘referee’ to strike meetings in the city. 27 behaviour of its leaders. He preferred ‘40 -hours work and no overtime.’ to have a majority of its members outset, their Management Committee The SMC then fined the Wynnum This ban put off any unionist declare that they wanted to operate had ‘endeavoured to enlist the support secretary £5 for waiting on accustomed to balancing his of the Plumbers Delegates and the endorsement by Federal Council without his protection before taking 50 household budget with a couple of so ‘very serious’ a step. De- AWU’. On 11 February, the SMC before going out. In turn, the sub- hours at time-and-a-half. Of course, it registration would ‘penalise a large called a Summons Meeting to deal branch went to the Federal Council, was not possible for the unions to with the ‘lockout’. A majority of the demanding that the SMC be sacked body of reputable men’. Webb allow overtime on Saturdays until the suspected that it suited the militants office-bearers remained solid, fining for its illegal behaviour. The Federal 40 -hour week over five days had been ‘for the Board to act precipitately.’ lagga rds and expelling defaulters, Council found in favour of the won. However, the failure of the including the deputy premier, W. complainants, but did not move Next morning, he announced the de- 51 54 activists to foresee this complication registration of the four unions. The Forgan Smith. When the against the State officials. was another sign that they had Board allowed their Award to stand Rockhampton sub-branch refused to embarked on the campaign with an join the action, the Management Some ASC&JA members were not in justice to the Plasterers and inadequate grasp of its complexities. Plumbers, and to those members of Committee acquiesced, with the under the Building Trades Award. In The root of the problem was their the four deregistered unions who had proviso that, if the rest of the BTG addition, a number of those covered expectation of a pushover. continued to work.29 there went out, then the Painters and were not being locked out, whether Decorators must fall in line or ‘be they worked 40 or 44 hours. Some At a mass union meeting on that dealt with for disobeying the head employers had come to branch.’52 accommodations by closing on morning, the door -keepers at the Trades Hall counted 2,140 in The ASC&JA’s Management Saturdays so long as the men put in Committee had unanimously another two hours during the week.

26 31 of the joinery shops had gone out.42 Police surveillance collected further attendance. Miles alleged that the although Award conditions applied to Although carpenters and joiners evidence of ineffectiveness. General numbers had been swollen by the the newcomers. belonged to the same union, there Instruction No 806 of the Queensland bosses’ encouraging all the were differences between working on Policeman’s Manual required the ‘weaklings’ to turn out to sabotage Temperate rulings by the Board of site and in workshops. The latter had force to keep watch over industrial the action. If so, the attempt failed. Arbitration, like strident resolutions more continuous employment disputes for breaches of the peace. The meeting remained resolute, by the workers, had become whereas carpenters chased between The daily reports from station officers refusing secret ballots. A section sang secondary. While the Board of Trade jobs. It would be helpful to know how did not include political remarks. For The . When news of the and Arbitration held back from doing many of 380 ‘No’ votes, out of the instance, the police did not note the threatened de-registrations arrived, its ‘worst’, the Labor administration 1,682 cast by ASC&JA members, had presence of known Communists such they rendered a repeat performance. felt no such reluctance. Its Public been cast by joiners. The percent age as Miles. Constable Mahon, who sent The meeting then resolved: Works Department dismissed anyone of negatives was more than twice that in most of the reports, had an ‘Comrades … to be consistent, let the who did not report.33 Even the of the other unions. informant at the union meetings. court do its worst. Let us retain our plasterers, who had kept working, got Mahon also relied on the Master solidarity, and with the help of our two days notice. The Plumbers and Plasterers had Builders for his accounts of the outer fellows in other unions struggle for 30 declined to join the action, although suburbs, and for his disapproving victory.’ Unemployment Insurance their members had voted as strongly attitude. For all but two days of the In a body blow at the unions’ in favour of the 40 hours as had the nine -week dispute, Mahon signed off Faced with a second attempt by the capacity to hold out, the Insurance others. By the middle of February, the with ‘everything quiet and in good employers, on 14 February, to Council denied sustenance to anyone BTG wanted the Plumbers expelled order’. He was surprised when even suspe nd the Building Trades Award, who refused to work 44 hours. In from the Trades Hall. Instead, the deregistration of the four unions did Justice Webb continued to be 1919, the Legislative Council had T&LC voted 27 to 21 to ask the not lead to any disturbances. cautious. He removed the Award only thrown out the first attempt to Plumbers’ officials to explain their from the Bricklayers Society, and introduce insurance against 43 position. The police reported only two only in the Brisbane area where no unemployment as the ‘Loafers incidents of intimidation, both verbal. more than 55 of its members were at Paradise Bill’. With the Council On 15 February, a trio of strikers work. The MBA had singled out the abolished in 1922, amended Pickets chiacked a builder. A scab, Frederick Bricklayers as the ‘source of legislation began to operate from 31 Although the unions thought of Strutt, was abused as he left home; unrest’. March 1923. The employer, the themselves as locked out, they made next day, the New Farm station sent a employee and the government each 45 little use of pickets to prevent scab constable to escort him to work. The MBA thought that its application contributed three (later four) pence a labour or black materials entering Given Mahon’s lack of sympathy to suspend the Award should, week. A worker employed for six sites. Rather, the purpose of the towards the unions, his account of perhaps, have included the BLF, as so months was guaranteed a benefit for pickets was to collect names to lay calm indicates the gap between the few of its members were working and 13 weeks. The support was about half charges before the union executives. rhetoric of the militants at mass ‘their leaders had backed up the the minimum wage for a family of The gathering of this evidence fell to meetings and the absence of action bricklayers.’ However, the BLF could five. A single man got 15 shillings.34 officials, or to activists paid for their around the jobs. be overlooked because ‘there were time. Pickets were always an large numbers of men available who From the start of the dispute, exception. Moreover, they faded In other respects, the organisation would be only too glad to get work of McCormack insisted: ‘We are not 32 away once deregistration removed also fell short of the ‘wonderful that description.’ The preference going to give assistance to people that their legal protection. Miles regretted enthusiasm’ about which Carleton given in the 1919 Award had been would enable them to fight against 46 that the BTG could not prevent scabs telegrammed Gallagher. For lost by deregistration. The work fell us.’ Payments would be made only to from working. 44 instance, after the Women Workers’ to anyone who would take it, men ‘who were unemployed as a

30 27 result of the 40 -hour-week dispute, Mr Lawson: My view is that no weeks later. By the end of the month, was that the timber workers were but who are not directly concerned in men or women should be allowed the Carpenters had to ask their defending their 44 hours whereas the such dispute, and are not members of to starve. I would even steal from Federal Office for anothe r £1,000. building trades were chasing a the unions engaged in the disputes.’35 the Government if I thought I The Painters also handed their relief concession that few other workers The government even cut off support could help those people. funds, including !100 from the NSW could expect. Even local activists had from those building trades unionists Branch, to the dispute committee. grounds for feeling that the who had been unemployed before the The Premier: That is only heroics! Melbourne and Sydney branches had Queensland BTG was the cause of its strike. Those unfortunates now lost each sent £50. The Bricklayers also own difficulties. A survey of the their entitlements because they McCormack accepted ‘the full put cash into the common pool . unions at the frontline of the dispute belonged to a defiant union. responsibility’ for denying sustenance adds weight to that suspicion. to children. 36 He then went overseas Money for the BLF arrived from its A delegation of union officials called to arrange loans, leaving deputy- Victorian Branch in February, while Around the Jobs on the Premier to find out why premier William Forgan Smith to the South Australians also sent £100. ! support had been withdrawn from enforce Labor principles. The NSW Branch forwarded 100 Among the four unions that had deserving cases. Some unionists had and levied its members five shillings. stopped Saturday work, the responses got sustenance for a week, only to Relief Funds Early in March, Carleton despatched were uneven. The employers reported have it stopped. The spokesperson for With the loss of the unemployment an Urgent Telegram to Melbourne: that of the 75 suburban jobs visited, the delegation, T&LC President insurance, the Building Trades ‘Only four days fund left. If hold out 50 were in ‘full swing’, with Lawson, sounded shocked. He dispute committee issued 500 ten more could win.’ The Victorians carpenters hard at it. Carleton criticised members of the Insurance subscription lists to sustain some donated another £100 and, on 7 countered these claims. Only one job Council for ‘“ scabbing” on their own 5,000 workers, many with families. March, empowered their Executive to 38 was working. Of the six labourers on mates.’ Even the tory government, he To provide twelve shillings to a send more. that site, the two BLF members were recalled, had not closed the relief couple, and three shillings for each to be expelled for scabbing. The 50 depot during the 1912 General Strike. child, the committee needed £600 a Contributions came from around sites identified by the MBA were no Surely the Premier was not prepared week. Queensland. A temporary organiser more than jerry builders putting up to see women and children starve? for the Carpenters forwarded £35 ‘humpies’.40 McCormack was unabashed: The four unions called on those from the Innisfail branch of the Labor members whom they allowed to work Party. Supporters in Toowoomba set Other jobs had been stopped by The Premier: What is the good to levy themselves 20 per cent of their up a fund-raising committee. Cash deluges. The unions had not thought coming to me if you have that wages. When the Brisbane City from the Australian Railways Union about the wisdom of withdrawing idea? It is only a waste of time. I Branch of the Carpenters polled its (ARU), the Meatworkers and the their labour during the monsoon will make you face the situation 2,000 members on that impost, 874 Waterside Workers did not arrive season when work was likely to be as it stands. I am com pelled to do returned ballot papers. Only 104 until the dispute was almost over. The shut down anyway. The officials so to justify myself. If that is the agreed to sacrifice a pound a week to Sewerage Workers Section of the could not have predicted how view of the labour movement help out their fellows who were AWU also subscribed. Even as Miles persistent or torrential the rains would 37 irrespective of the merits or the scraping by. appealed for more funds from be that year. The worst recorded demerits of the strike, and you workers across Australia, he could 39 cyclone hit Cairns, with 39 people expect the Government to The Federal Council of the ASC&JA not conceal a loss of drive locally. reported dead or missing. The MBA continue that strike by feeding the was more generous, sending £500 on joked that even Providence was on people who caused it – well, I 1 February, which the Queenslanders The assistance was far below that the side of the haves.41 want to know if that is your view? passed along to the dispute given to the timber workers during The MBA also pointed out how few committee. Another £500 arrived two their 1929 lockout. One difference

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