Typewriter

This small portable typewriter was used by communist activist and trade unionist Chip Bailey to produce daily clandestine news bulletins, leaflets and pamphlets in his home in Wellington during the 1951 waterfront lockout. In doing so, Chip and his wife Rona risked being imprisoned under the state of emergency introduced by the National Government. It was an offence to print or publish anything that supported the workers, and the police had sweeping powers of search and arrest. All the normal methods of communicating in a democratic society were forbidden – publications, news articles, picketing, marches, processions, meetings, posters. Offenders could be arrested without warrant.

Police ransacked the Baileys’ home searching for the typewriter, but failed to find where it was hidden (it sat behind a false panel on top of the pantry). They also failed to find the heavy Gestetner printing machine that was hidden in various locations around the city and was used to print thousands of illegal bulletins, leaflets and pamphlets in the early hours of the morning. As Rona Bailey recalled, ‘With very little sleep, working always into the early hours of the morning to deliver the goods every day for months on end, they defeated all the combined efforts of Government and police to track them down’ (1).

Thousands of illegal newsletters and pamphlets were printed and distributed by various producers throughout the country. Journalist and historian Dick Scott estimated that 650,000 bulletins were issued and 400,000 pamphlets and leaflets printed (2).

After 151 days, the watersiders conceded defeat. Their leaders were not allowed back on the wharves.

References:

(1) Rona Bailey, Salient, vol. 34, no. 18, 6 October 1971, p. 12.

(2) Dick Scott, 151 Days, Reed, Auckland, 1952/2001, p. 179.