Author's Preface: ... The influence of the Communist Party has always been stronger than its small membership would indicate, and individual marxists have deeply influenced major strikes and social developments. Despite this, the history of the Communist Party in Western Australia, and its roots in the labor movement, has not been set down.
This attempt is made when Australians are becoming more aware of the need to record their short past, instead of despising or ignoring it; when distance from events is bringing more appreciation of the efforts of those who have consciously striven for social change. ... (p.1-3).