COMMUNISTS GAOLED

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2827, 23 December 1924, Page 3

COMMUNISTS GAOLED

“FOUL BROOD OF NOXIOUS REPTILES.” In sentencing Oswald Bourbeau and Evan John Thomas, ringleaders of the New Zealand Communist Party at Auckland, charged with selling a book entitled the “A.B.C. of Communism,” the Magistrate, Mi J. W. Poynton, said: “The book is a long-sustained shriek of the usual Bolshevik pitch. It might have been written by a homicidal maniac so many are its incitements to violence and threats of massacre. The 'brotherhood of man,’ so much mouthed about by those exponents of the doctrine, must be of the cannibalistic variety—a longing' for another missionary—the fatter the better.”

Experience, continued the magistrate, had that such poison acted like strong drink "on savage or ill balanced minds. “A rabid animal,” he said, “is not so dangerous as a man spreading venom of this description.” Britain, Mr Poynton continued, had long afforded a safe asylum of the oppressed of all na.tions. Some of our best colonists were foreigners, but recently many of our guests appeared to be bent on sowing discord, with the object of ultimately destroying us. The accused Bourbeau appeared to be one of these noxious individuals. After further remarks in this strain, Mr Poynton said: “How British Communities will tolerate so long this foul brood of noxious reptiles passes understanding. These are not cases for fines.” Bourbeau was sentenced to three months and Thomas, who had been previously lined £25, was sentenced to two months.