BLASPHEMY?

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 76, 20 November 1931, Page 7

BLASPHEMY?

storm in senate UNFORTUNATE REFERENCE TO SAVIOUR IN SPEJ3CH. ATTITUDE TO COMMUNISM. CANBERRA, Nov. 16. Seldom has the serenity of the Senate been ruffled as it was this week, following an unfortunate reference by the Government Leader (Senator Barnes) to the Saviour, in a speech on Communism which drew from the Opposition a charge of blasphemy. Unwittingly, Senator Foll appiied the spark to the bombshell which burst with such unexpected and startling effect. He complained that Communismi was apparently spreading with alarming rapidity in Australia, and blamed Government laxity for permitting "this eancerous growth" to flourish unchecked. "This Government believes in administering Commonwealth law. It does not propose to interfere in State matters, whether they concern the Communists or the New Guard," said Senator Daly. Senator Thompson: "The Communist organisation is unlawful. The New Gnard is not." Senator Daly: "The New Guard is the Communistic wing of the antiLabour forces.- It is just as unlawful and just as lawful as the Communists." Then Senator Barnes rose to reply. "From time to time," he said, "things appear in the papers designed to scare dear old ladies of both sexes. Senator Foll's complaint doesn't seem to me to matter much, for Communism does not cut much iee in this country." Held-up Shipping. Senator Pearce: They have just held up our shipping trade. "I suppose there are a number of Communists here," continued Senator Barnes, "but we must remember that this is a free country, and I don't know that we should stifle the voice of any prophet that comes along with a new thought that might prehaps evangelise the world. "When Christ, 2000 years ago, expressed a thought that was new and revolutionary, he was persecuted and crucified, yet his word has lasted ever since. Why then should I object to any doctrine, or do anything to suppress a new line of thought, which might do as much for the world as the Saviour's did?" Senator McLachlan: Blasphemy. In shocked silence, Senator Pearce rose. Then the storm broke. "We might have been surprised at Senator Daly's avoiding the issue," he began, "but we" must be more than astonished at the statements made by the Leader of the Government, which almost amounts to blasphemy. To suggest that the principles underlying Communism have anything to do with Christianity approaches blasphemy. "Unfair." Senator Barnes: It is unfair to suggest that I said that. Communists' best friends were complacent Governments, which took the stand that no action was necessary to deal with them, because they were only a minority. That' minority had taken charge in Russia, and was ruling the majority by terrorism. Making a personal explanation, Senator Daly said that he had no sympathy with Communism in Australia, and added that he would do everything in his power to suppress' any unlawful movement. "Also," he added, "T do not connect the founder of Christianity in any way with the principles of Communism." "I also dissociate myself from any suggestions that any Communistic thought can be linked up with the Great Master," said Senator Hoare, "and I don't think that any such statement should have been made. In a carefully-worded speech Senator Dooley said that the Government fully appreciated the seriousness of any. growth in Australia that was iikely to be detrimental to the interests. of the country.