Read A Few Right Thinking Men Online
Authors: Sulari Gentill
A Few Right Thinking Men (33 page)
New Guard Actions
Police May Intervene
SYDNEY, Tuesday
In the Legislative Assembly today, Mr. Heffron asked the Chief Secretary (Mr. Gosling) whether his attention had been drawn to the recent actions of the New Guard. Would he consider declaring the New Guard to be an illegal organisation?
Mr. Gosling said that some time ago he had regarded the actions of the New Guard as buffoonery, but now it was approaching criminality. The question of proceeding against members of the New Guard for breaking the law was one for the police.
The Sydney Morning Herald
, April 4, 1932
The clientele of the tea house at the docks were, for the most part, those about to embark in the second- and third-class cabins of the passenger liners that left from the harbour. The establishment's windows were so caked with grime that it could offer its patrons a privacy forgone in the more fashionable, and well-maintained cafes. At a table by the murky window sat a heavily jowled man who smoked continuously and seemed to produce unreasonably large clouds of fumes whenever he exhaled. Seated with him was a young man with dark, slightly unruly hair. His eyes were so intense that they were recognisable as blue from across the room, despite the tobacco fog of the tea house. A pair of crutches leant against the back of his chair.
The two had been deep in conversation for over an hour. Earlier, there had been a strong tension between themâthe older man had initially refused to sit, and at one point, had knocked the crutches to the floor. But something the younger man had said thawed the atmosphere and their heads had been bent close for a while. The younger man looked at his wristwatch, and reached round to grab the crutches. He struggled to his feet, gritting his teeth as he did so. His companion stubbed out his cigarette and stood also. The two shook hands.
“I'll see you when I get back,” said the one on crutches. “Remember, speak to Delaney when the time comes.”
The other nodded. “You can rely on me. Good luck, Jonesy.” Inevitably, he tapped the side of his nose.
Civil War
Mr. Lang's Bogey
ATTACKS ON COURTS RENEWED
GOULBURN
Speaking here to-night, Mr. Lang claimed that Mr. Stevens had stated that if the Labor Party was returned at the election, he and his colleagues in the Federal Parliament would declare civil war upon them.
“Was that an ultimatum Australians were going to sit down under?” Mr. Lang asked.
What Mr. Stevens said in effect, was that: “If you vote for Labor, the Federal Government will shoot you down. What sort of a cause must Mr. Stevens have, if he had to threaten the population with civil war unless he won the election?”
Mr. Lang said that Mr. Stevens' threat was idle. It was used simply to dragoon people of the State into voting for Stevens' policyâthe policy that would bring misery and ruin to the people of New South Wales.
The Canberra Times
, April 4, 1932
Kate Sinclair kissed her brother-in-law fondly. “You look after yourself, Rowly. Have a wonderful time.”
Wilfred shook his hand. Rowland winced, trying to balance on a single crutch.
Wilfred frowned as he noticed. “You should have let me send Nurse Conroy with you.”
“One day, Wil,” Rowland said, “if I have cause to retain a nurse for youâ¦I'll remember Nurse Conroy.”
Wilfred smiled faintly. “I don't know what you mean, Rowly. She's a fine womanâ¦came highly recommended.”
“For what exactly?”
“I've had a word to the ship's doctorâ¦he'll keep an eye on you.” Wilfred glanced at Milton and Clyde who were skylarking with young Ernest a few yards away, and Edna who was bidding farewell to her father and the flock of eager young men who'd come to see her off. “You just make sure your friends don't disgrace us internationally.”
Rowland's eyes darkened.
Kate nudged her husband. “Oh Wil, don't quarrel.” She reached up to Rowland's ear and whispered. “He's actually quite glad they'll be there to look after you.”
“You had best board now,” Wilfred directed sternly. “It might take you a while to get up the gangplank.”
Rowland looked up at the ship towering above them. Was he walking away when New South Wales needed the few men left who were still sane? MacKay's men had already faced off against the New Guard, on the day De Groot stood trial. The police had more than defeated the Guard; they had publicly humiliated Campbell. Guardsmen were trotted through Liverpool Street by their neckties, pounded and bloodied by a constabulary ordered to take back control. Had they succeeded, or would things simply escalate?
Wilfred put a hand on his shoulder. “Don't worry, Rowly. They won't get the better of us.”
Rowland wondered briefly who his brother meant by “they,” but he left it.
Ernest ran up to them, excited, and clambered into his father's arms. “You have to throw lots of streamers, Uncle Rowly. From up there,” he pointed.
“Of course,” Rowland replied. “I'll throw yellow ones. You watch out for them.”
Ernest nodded solemnly. “Are you going to see the King?”
“Shall I give him your regards?”
Ernest smiled. “Don't be silly, Uncle Rowly, King George has his own guardsâ¦with big black furry hats.”
“Oh, yes, I forgot.”
Rowland finished his goodbyes, and turned to join his friends to board.
As Wilfred took his family to the best vantage point to wave the
Oceanic
off, a brass band struck up, signalling the passengers that final boarding had commenced. The Sinclair party moved slowly toward the stream of travellers making its way to the gangway.
“Oi, Sinclair!” Rowland just heard the hail above the music and the noise. “Sinclair!”
Harcourt Garden ran toward them, pushing through the crush. Clyde and Milton stiffened. Surely Garden wasn't going to challenge a man on crutches. The burly Unionist caught up.
Rowland regarded Garden warily; their last encounter, in Pyrmont, had been anything but cordial. “Harry,” he said carefully. “What are youâ¦?”
“I was here talking to some of the boys on the docks, when I caught sight of you.” Garden stuck out his hand, grinning. “I hear the Boo Guard is looking for you.”
Rowland took his hand. “So I'm told.”
“I don't know who the hell you were working for, Sinclair, but you obviously got to that mongrel, Campbell. That makes you all right in my reckoning.” He leant closer. “Did you really try to kill the Fascist bastard?”
Rowland met his eye. “No.”
Garden winked. “Of course notâyou're a gentleman, after all, eh, Sinclair? But stillâ¦it was a good try.”
“Look, Harry⦔ Rowland thought now of the meeting of the Fascist Legion to which Poynton had taken him. Jock Garden's name had come up several times. “The men in hoods, the ones who beat up Paddy⦔
“Paddy wasn't drunk, you're saying?”
“No, he wasn'tâ¦They're a dangerous mob; fanatical. Tell your father to watch out.”
Garden nodded. “That Detective Delaney's already been round, but Dad thought the police were just trying to get him to back off. Thanks, Sinclair, I'll stick to old Jock like glue.”
“We'd better go,” Rowland glanced up the gangway.
“Goodbye then, Rowly,” Garden slapped his back warmly. “Don't worry, we'll be ready for them.”
Again Rowland wondered who exactly fell under the category of “them.”
Leaving Garden, they made their way onto the
Oceanic
and up to the first-class decks. Rowland gripped the rail of the promenade thankfully. Clyde and Milton had all but carried him up the stairs and the roll of the deck was not pleasant on crutches. Still, the atmosphere of excitement was contagious. He was beginning to feel less despondent about this exileâ¦at least he would spend it in good company.
The ship's horn sounded its low, belching note. The crowds around them and below on the docks cheered and waved. The band played “Auld Lang Syne.”
“Here you go, Rowly.” Edna handed him several rolls of yellow streamers. “Ernie will be watching.” Thousands of passengers all began hurling the colourful paper strips.
The tugs pulled the ocean liner away from the docks, its horn drowning out the crowds and the fanfare. Rowland watched as Sydney receded. There wasn't anything more he could do. He'd just have to hope to God that democracy would survive all these right-thinking men.
Archibald Prize
Won By Mr. E. Buckmaster
Portrait of Sir William Irvine
SYDNEY, Thursday
The Archibald Prize of £370 has again been awarded to a Victorian, Mr. Ernest Buckmaster of Melbourne, for his portrait of His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor of Victoria (Sir William Irvine).
Mr. Buckmaster was represented by five large portraits, all of which maintain a high standard of excellence in technique and delineation of character. His winning portrait of Sir William, shown seated against a sombre background, is imbued with quiet dignity and a sense of repose.
The Argus
Convicted of offensive behaviour, Francis De Groot was fined £4 plus costs. The Irishman's charge upon the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening ribbon aroused a public reaction that galvanised both the New Guard's supporters and its detractors. De Groot would later claim he took this action only to prevent Campbell from choosing a more extreme and dangerous plan.
***
Later that same month, as tensions heightened, Superintendent Bill MacKay commissioned a full police report into the activities of the Old Guard, rumoured to greatly outnumber Campbell's movement, and to be preparing for action.
***
In May, 1932, the Peace Officers Act was implemented by the Federal Government as across the State the loyal men of the Old Guard stood ready to be sworn. The Old Guard was poised for mobilisation.
***
On May 6, 1932, Jock Garden was assaulted by eight men in black hoods and robes. When Garden's sons came to his aid, the assailants fled but for one man who was cornered by the family's Airedale terrier. The resulting investigation saw the arrest of John Dynon, who gave the police the names of the other men, all members of the New Guard's Fascist Legion. On May 9, 1932, all eight were convicted of assault and sentenced to three months gaol. They unsuccessfully appealed the decision on the grounds that police provocateurs in their midst had incited the operation. While Eric Campbell denied any prior knowledge of the Fascist Legion, he maintained that many “red-blooded Guardsmen probably felt that Garden had been let off lightly with only a good hiding.”
***
On May 12, 1932, Herbert Poynton confessed to Detective Constable Colin Delaney everything he knew about the New Guard, the Fascist Legion, and their activities. The information was a major blow to Eric Campbell and his movement. Poynton made no mention of Rowland Sinclair. It was never clear to police exactly what led Poynton to confess.
***