UNABASHED BY PROTEST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 69, 6 January 1947, Page 6

UNABASHED BY PROTEST

REFERENCE TO “BUSHRANGERS”

DOCTOR JOAD AND MR BEASLEY

Dr. C. E. M. Joad is unabashed at the Australian official reaction to his “bushranger” remarks concerning Australia in a 8.8. C. Brains Trust broadcast.

He is standing firm on the words he used as his own opinion, and does not care how many people disagree with him. (In a broadcast he said that the British had infinitely more in common with Western Europe “in art and culture than . . .

let us say, the farmers, bushrangers, and so on of Australia and Canada.”) A Melbourne Herald special representative interviewed Dr. Joad as the bearded professor was hurrying in—lo minutes late —for a two hours’ lecture on political philosophy at the London University School of Social Studies.

The Herald representative showed him the official text of the statement about which the High Commissioner, Mr Beasley, was protesting to Mr Attlee. Dr. Joad fixed the representative with a combative eye and replied: “Aren’t there any bushrangers in Australia?” The rest of the interview went on like this :

“Mr Beasley takes a serious view of your remarks, as disparaging and slighting to Australians. Have you any message for Australia?”

Dr. Joad: The 8.8. C. statement means what it says. I am allowed to say something with which people disagree. Many Australians might' disagree with your classing our farmers and businessmen with bushrangers?—lf people agreed with me they would not consider the remarks disparaging. It is only when people disagree that they consider the statement unfair to themselves.

Your statement is the subject of a protest to the 8.8. C. Do you expect a 8.8. C. reaction, and possible guidance on future Brains Trust talks?—People always protest to the 8.8. C. when they disagree. I am free to express an opinion. Do you agree that it is undesirable that there should be slighting comment on Britain’s kinspeople in the Dominion?—l repeat I expressed an opinion, and there is such a thing as freedom of the air. Goodnight.

Dr. Joad began his lecture on political philosophy 20 minutes later.