Communist Party of New Zealand

Date: 18 November 1976 - 18 Nov 1976

By: Ayo, Eleanor Matilda, 1916-2004; Jackson, George, 1908-2000; Skilton, Aubrey Bruce, 1908-1995

Reference: OHColl-0213/1

Description: Ella Ayo, George Jackson and Bruce Skilton talk about the early years of the Socialist Unity Party, Young Communist League, `Industrial Worker', Community Party schism, the 1943 election, 1932 Auckland riots and the 1935 Communist Party Conference and the Soviet-German Non-Aggression Pact. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-000450-000455 Quantity: 6 C60 cassette(s).

Date: 9-10 Feb 2002 - 09 Feb 2002 - 10 Feb 2002

By: Evans, Judith Christine, 1920-; Chiliadaki, Argyro, active 2002

Reference: OHColl-0661-01

Description: Judy Evans was born in Khandallah, Wellington in 1920. Mentions her artistic father, Guy Harding, a cartographer for Lands and Survey Department. Describes working as a ticket writer and display artist, when in 1944 the New Zealand Communist Party assigned Judy and her father the task of painting the murals for their Unity Centre in Cuba Street, Wellington. Mentions that her husband was overseas serving in World War II at the time. Talks about why the murals were produced, the process of designing them with her father, and painting them on pinex sheets with poster paints. Refers to design influences, including Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Mentions what happened to the murals after the Party vacated the premises. Refers to a series of murals she painted for Christchurch's Unity Centre that have since been destroyed. Interviewer(s) - Argyro Chiliadaki Accompanying material - 2 photocopied newspaper articles about Judy Evans, a photocopy of an article published in Sites no. 16 (Autumn 1988):71-72, a draft of typed general biographical information about Judy Evans (3 pages); and a photocopy of a letter from Judy Evans to Marian Minson, Curator, Pictorial Collections. Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 folder(s) Interviewee information. 60 Minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - other accompanying material OHA-3860. Search dates: 1943 - 1950

Date: 1 Jun 1993 - 01 Jun 1993

From: Te Roopu Rawakore o Aotearoa oral history project

By: Sowry, Ivan Ernest, active 1976-2009

Reference: OHInt-0662/29

Description: Ivan Sowry gives reasons for involvement in the Auckland Unemployed Workers Rights Centre (AUWRC). Talks about Advocacy and other work at AUWRC. Notes that AUWRC was the only group opposing the rising unemployment. Discusses changes at AUWRC, disillusionment and election of Labour 1985-1986. Talks about March Against Unemployment 1988 and mentions intimidation of people by the Communist Party. Refers to the effects of the March on Te Roopu Rawakore. Talks about the setting up and role of The Peoples Centre. Mentions the election of Sue Bradford as national co-ordinator. Refers to being employed by HART [1985] and redundancy from HART when funding dried up. Access Contact - see oral history librarian Interviewer(s) - Karen Davis Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-010397 ; OHLC-005098 Quantity: 1 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 Hours Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-3542.

Date: 1932-1978

From: Bailey, Rona, 1914-2005 : Papers and recordings

Reference: 2006-041-062

Description: Papers relating to the Communist Party of New Zealand including notes on its history and pamphlets published by it. Statement of Communist policy addressed to the leaders and members of the Communist Party of New Zealand, 1965 or 1966; interview with Jim Dyer on the history of the Communist Party in New Zealand; leaflets and booklets produced by the Wellington District Committee of the Communist Party of New Zealand, 1970-1971; monographs and articles relating to the Communist Party's rule in China and miscellaneous papers including `On the dissolution of the Communist Party of the United States' by Jacques Duclos, 1945, the position of the Communist Party in relation to Maori in New Zealand and constitution of the Communist Party of New Zealand, 1957 Quantity: 1 box(es).

Date: 1923-1990

By: Mitchell, John James, 1907-1990

Reference: MS-Group-0461

Description: The papers relate to Mitchell's activity in the Communist Party, Socialist Unity Party, various trade unions and in industrial disputes such as the 1951 waterfront strike. Tapes of interviews with Mitchell by Doug Crosado have been transferred to the Oral History Centre. Nearly all papers relating to Mitchell's involvement with local politics in Freemans Bay, Auckland, have been deposited with the Auckland Institute and Museum. Some of the papers have notes added by Doug Crosado. Source of title - Supplied Quantity: 126 folder(s). 1 microfilm reel(s). 3.31 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts, printed material, photographs Provenance: These papers have been with Doug Crosado, an old trade unionist and friend of Mitchell. Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donations, Douglas Crosado, 1977 (77-228), 1990 (90-187), 1991 (91-261) Transfers: Collection as a whole received into Manuscripts; material transferred to other sections from here - To Oral History Collection - Audio tapes and transcripts. Transcripts transferred May 2006 (OHInt-0219/1) - To Serials Collection - Rebel, No 119 (PR-06-0265) - To Photographic Archive - Three photos of demonstrations, some following Rainbow Warrior sinking (PAColl-8908) - To Ephemera Collection - NZ Socialist Unity Party greeting card [Eph-A-SOCIALIST-SUP-1975-01].

Date: 1954-1958

From: Roth, Herbert Otto, 1917-1994: Collected papers, personal papers, photographs and ephemera

Reference: 94-106-68/12

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: [ca 1890-1994]

By: Crosado, Douglas Armstrong, 1921-1994

Reference: MS-Group-0396

Description: Records are mainly of railway trade unions, especially with reference to the railway workshop unions; also research notes and drafts of studies made in the history of the railway workshops and trade unions; the records also include large amounts of circulars, and publications. Crosado's main area of activity was with the Otahuhu Branch of the Railway Tradesmens' Association, and the records reflect this bias. Papers concerning compulsory unionism in the railways and re-organisation of the railway workshops Source of title - Supplied Arrangement: The records have been box-listed. The main unit within these archives boxes are file boxes which have on them Crosado's own file number. Quantity: 120 box(es). 9 volume(s). 2 folder(s). 40.50 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holographs, mss, typescripts, printed matter Finding Aids: Mr Crosado's own alphabetical (and somewhat incomplete) index to his file system is at 95-072-100.. Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Donation, Mr K Crosado, 1988 & 1995 (88-292 & A95-072) Transfers: To Oral History Collection - 4 boxes of tape recordings made by Mr Crosado - To Serials Collection - 4 boxes of periodicals - To Photographic Archive - Photographs (to be counted). Processing information: Previous access statement "Restricted - Content cannot be accessed without permission" was removed on 18 July 2022 when access restriction was updated to 'No access restrictions'.

From: Riske, Marcus 1906- : Papers

Reference: Series-0739

Description: These papers relate to Riske's association with the New Zealand Communist Party, his visit to the USSR in 1934-1935 and his subsequent attacks on the political system of that country. For further papers relating to his USSR experience see MS-Papers-5398-01, and MS-Papers-5398-44.

Date: 1941-1945

From: Murdoch, Eric, fl 1930-1943 : Papers

Reference: MSY-3976

Description: The volume includes minutes, financial records and newscuttings Quantity: 1 volume(s). Physical Description: Mss and printed matter

Date: 1978

By: Porter, John James Joseph, 1904-1982; New Zealand Seamen's Union

Reference: MS-Papers-3888

Description: Reminiscences describe Porter's involvement in the labour movement from his youth in Bootle, England until about 1932 in Christchurch. They include references to many people involved in the labour movement during this time. They end with the note `to be continued'. Source of title - cover title Porter arrived in New Zealand in 1925 and joined the Communist Party the following year. He worked as a seaman until he was `blacklisted', then helped to organise the unemployed in Christchurch during the 1930s. Quantity: 1 folder(s) (30 leaves). Physical Description: Typescript (photocopy) Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Mr K S Stanton, Porirua, 1980

Date: Aug-Dec 1947

From: Roth, Herbert Otto, 1917-1994: Collected papers, personal papers, photographs and ephemera

Reference: 94-106-68/08

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1903-1943

By: Murdoch, Eric, active 1930-1943

Reference: MS-Group-0374

Description: The papers include material relating to the Communist Party in Blackball, lecture notes from the Workers' Educational Association of Otago University on Man's place in Nature, and personal papers of Harold Davis The papers are those of the donor's father, Eric Murdoch, who was an electrician from Glasgow. He was a member of the Communist Party, and secretary of the local branch; he wrote some of the minutes. The papers of Harry Davis are separate from those of Murdoch but were collected by him. Quantity: 3 volume(s). 6 folder(s). 0.10 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts and printed matter Provenance: Donor/Lender/Vendor - Mr G Murdoch, Wellington, 1995

Date: 1945-1946

By: New Zealand Society for Closer Relations with the USSR

Reference: MS-Papers-3826

Description: Comprises reports of the society's national conference (1945) and minutes of the National Executive Committee, correspondence with politicians, including Walter Nash; also the branch's Educational Monographs Nos 1, 3-5 Source of title - Supplied Accompanying material - With typescript account of the society 1941-1948 (photocopy) by W Greenwood The society was founded in 1941 to improve bilateral relations between New Zealand and the USSR Quantity: 1 folder(s) (ca 70 leaves). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescripts (some carbon and cyclostyled copies) Provenance: Records are from the files of the branch president, Mr W Greenwood

Date: 1978

By: Kilpatrick, Henry Gordon, 1903-1987

Reference: MS-Papers-5794

Description: Reminiscences were recorded at an interview conducted on tape between Kilpatrick and Ray Grover (Turnbull Library) and Len Richardson (Canterbury University) on 24 Jul 1978. Kilpatrick recounts his life, union activities, political development, changes in ideological attitudes as well as his association with prominent unionists and politicians in New Zealand and Australia. This is a transcript of the first three sides of the tapes (5 in all). Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript and mss Transfers: To Oral History Collection - 3 cassette tapes and copy of partial transcript (OHColl-0243/1).

Date: 1911-1974

By: Griffin, Gerald John, 1904-1976

Reference: 86-043

Description: Contains correspondence, both family and concerning international peace, Irish and anti-fascist movements, minutes of the Zealand Socialist Party and other papers relating to that and the Communist Party, newsclippings on the above topics and on the Soviet Union, and pamphlets. Many of the clippings and pamphlets are concerned with the Kisch-Griffin affair in Australia, 1934. Source of title - Supplied title Irish nationalist, peace activist and unionist. Quantity: 9 box(es). 3 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss, typescripts and printed matter Transfers: To Book Collections - Books, pamphlets and serials (listed separately by Acquisitions) and unique items removed to book collections, duplicates remain in collection..

Date: 1903-1980

From: Roth, Herbert Otto, 1917-1994: Collected papers, personal papers, photographs and ephemera

Reference: 94-106-15/09

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1950-1951

From: Roth, Herbert Otto, 1917-1994: Collected papers, personal papers, photographs and ephemera

Reference: 94-106-68/10

Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Date: 1994

From: Lusk, Peter, 1948: Papers and photographs

By: Lusk, Peter, 1948-

Reference: MS-Papers-9483

Description: Letter of resignation from the Communist Party of New Zealand, mainly over doctrinal differences as to the nature of Trotskyism; also over his conflict with members on the Auckland District Executive. Source of title - Supplied by Library Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Typescript

Date: 1980-1995

From: Socialist Alliance: Records

Reference: Eph-B-SOCIALIST-SA-1980/1995

Description: Includes: 1980s: Socialist Unity Party. Christchurch Branch. Health; let the public decide [n.d.]. Flier Rent Strike Action Committee Christchurch. ‘Rent strike August’. Flier Peoples Budget Action Alliance (single page response to Revolutionary Communist League) David Caygill – blank petition calling for resignation Wellington Unemployed Workers Union (n.d) Workers Against Unemployment Rally 1985: Committee for a Workers Front (Christchurch). Housing for people or a place to rent. Public Meeting, 29 June [1985] 1986: ‘Build the Workers’ United Front!’ Conference, 29-30 March [1986]. Programme Build the Workers United Front, conference registration flyer [1986] Committee for a Workers’ Front. (Christchurch). A workers’ alternative to Rogernomics. Public meeting; hear the National Union of Railwaymen, Revolutionary Communist League, Socialist Unity Party, Labour Left. 1 June [1986]. Flier Easter Conference to ‘Build the workers united front’ Bus Workers LOCKED OUT [ca 1986]. Yellow flier ‘Challenges for Change Working Party’. Palmerston North, 7-9 March 1986. Programme Communist Party of New Zealand. The Revolutionary Communist League’s call for a united front. 29 March 1986 Join the Workers’ Front; for an independent Workers Front. [1986?]. Flier People's Budget Action Alliance, Labour Weekend 1986. A critical situation Socialist Alliance Auckland Branch, 1986 (8th December) Newsletter 3 (1 page) 1987: Communist Party. Christchurch Branch. Fight Post Office closures!; wanted real alternatives; reformism - no solution for workers [1987]. Flier Forums for a crisis 1987( A4 Yellow poster) Marxist Workers Union 1987 (Papatoetoe) ‘Make Mayday 1987 the day of union independence (1 page) Marxist Workers Union Election Leaflet No. 2 (13.7.1987) and No 3 (13.8.1987) Socialist Alliance (Wellington). The fight against unemployment; a revolutionary strategy. 20 April 1987. Flier (2 copies; one yellow, one blue) Socialist Alliance Flyer. Jobs for all; a shorter working week; no loss of pay (2 copies) [1987] Socialist Alliance. Jobs for all; 4 days work for 5 days’ pay [1987] Socialist Alliance. Shorter hours more jobs; 32 hours now. [1987?] Flier (2 copies) Socialist Alliance. Vote jobs - vote Pearce in St Albans; we've got a better way! [1987] (2 copies, 1 printed in black, 1 in red) People’s Party, (Island Bay Electorate) Introducing Chris Ellis [1987] (flyer) Socialist Educational and Active Workers Conference. Hamilton, 28-31 December [1987]. Flier 1988: Full Employment Campaign (flyer) and pamphlet. Notice: National Day/Week of Action 18 March 1988 March Against Unemployment (Wellington, 10 October 1988) Pamphlet March 18 Rally for full employment; endorsed by SA SUP, PSA, 23 Unions, 15 community organisations 1988. Flier People’s Conference. Wellington High School, 4 June 1988. Programme/ registration flyer) and yellow A4 poster Draft People’s Charter. [Product of People’s Conference, Wellington [1988?] People’s Voice (24.4.1988) Gibbs Report assists monopoly profit drive PSA No Accord Group ‘Say “NO” to the Compact/Accord’. 21 November 1988. Flier Socialist Alliance, University of Canterbury Branch (flyer for introductory meeting) (1 page) Trade Unions and the Labour Government – a new accord? [1988] 1989: Revolutionary Communist League. An Open Letter to the Editor of NZ Monthly Review (16 November 1989) Socialist Alliance. Education Issues Conference. 22 January 1989. List of speakers State Sector Bill; their claims versus the facts [early 1989?]. Yellow flier 1990-1995: Centre for Socialist Education (Christchurch initiative) 1990-1995 (various pamphlets, description of activities) Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Fliers and posters, sizes varying

Date: 1970-1979

Reference: Eph-A-COMMUNIST-1970s

Description: Includes: 1970: Communist Party of New Zealand. National Secretariat. Bring back NZ troops now! U.S.A. get out of S.E. Asia! [1970] (2 copies) Communist Party of New Zealand. Wellington District. The price fixers [1970]. 1971: Communist Party of New Zealand. Mount Roskill Branch. New Zealand troops trained to kill New Zealanders; documents show role of Army in defence of vicious minority (ruling) class [`1971] Communist Party of New Zealand. Wellington District Committee. General Motors drives over all workers [1971] (4 copies) "Is Maoism a revolutionary force?"; a debate between George Rosenberg ... and George Fyson & Keith Locke. Central Library Lecture Hall, 3 December [1971]. Small mimeographed flier 1972: Communist Party of New Zealand. Alternative to the fraud of Parliament. People's struggle for working people's power [1972] Communist Party of New Zealand. National Secretariat. Mobilise to defeat US aggressors, and expose role of the New Zealand puppet politicians [1972] 1975: [Communist Party of New Zealand]. Maori land march will help expose common enemy [1975]. Flier Communist Party of New Zealand. Oil and power crisis [1975??] (2 copies) Communist Party of New Zealand. Stop this invasion! [1975]. Flier Communist Party of New Zealand. Take your destiny in your own hands; struggle for working people's power [1975] (2 copies) The Socialist Party of New Zealand. general election, 29 November 1975. The Socialist manifesto [1975] 1976: Communist Party of New Zealand. On to the attack! [1976] Communist Party of New Zealand. Stop this invasion! [1976]. Flier (3 copies) 1977: Communist Party of New Zealand. National Secretariat. It can happen here; fight creeping fascism! 1977. Booklet of 12 pages 1978: Communist Party of New Zealand. National Secretariat. Defend living standard! Change the system! [ca 1978] Communist Party of New Zealand. National Secretariat. The new slump; its cause and cure [1978] Communist Party of New Zealand. National Secretariat. The slump and the elections; a Communist Party viewpoint. 1978 Communist Party of New Zealand. Preparatory Committee for the Formation of the Communist Party N.Z. (Marxist/Leninist). Albania's incorrect line exposed [1978] Wellington Marxist-Leninist Organisation (WMLO). Who will give our children a decent education. November 1978 1979: Northern Communist Organisation. Hamilton Branch. The housewife and her labour under capitalism [1979] (2 copies) Quantity: 1 folder(s). Physical Description: Photolithographs on pamphlets and flyers, sizes varying below 250 mm.