LAWSON BANNED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 84, 30 November 1931, Page 2

LAWSON BANNED

BUT YAPOURINGS OF RED AGITATORS NOT RESTRICTED. THE OFFICIAL MIND. The Sydney police have recently refused permission for the sale of the works of the Australian poet and author, Henry Lawson, in the Sydney Domaiii. Indignation has been aroused 5 by this action in view of the fact that Communist propaganda is freely ' sold in the Domain. In a double col1 umn panel, the Sydney "Sun-Guar-I dian," under the respective headings "Can Sell This," and "Cannot Sell This," puhlishes the following ex- 1 tracts from Communist literature and one of Lawson's poems.:— "Can Sell This" Fight! Our class wants you to fight. Prepare for the blood bath! Working women, organise; submit : — never. Mothers, teach your sons how to use the guns that master supplies them with — the "Working Woman." Reduce workmen's rates ,and let the church and masters pay. the church and masters pays. — Communist manifesto. Whenever you see a New Guard head; smash it. — To hell with god (without a capital). There is no way out but hy overthrowing- the system. — Hail the Revolution! Soviet youth is not hampered hy the fear of the "master of masters," .god. — The "Red Leader." "Cannot Sell This." They tried to live as a freeman should — they were happier men than we, In the glorious days of wine and blood, when Lxberty crossed the sea; 'Twas a comrade true or a foeman then, and a trusty sword well tried — They faced each other and fought like men, in the days when the world .was wide. * The good ship bound for the Southern seas, when the beacon was Ballarat, :With a "Ship ahoy!" on the freshening breeze. "Where bound " and "What ship's that?" — : The emigrant train to New Mexico — the rush to the Lachlan Side — : Ali! Faint is the echo of Westward Ho! from' the days when the world was wide. Opinions. Mr. A. G. Alanson, president of the : Lawson Literary Society, said: "It is ridiculous. Men are allowed to :hawk books round from door to door. Why on earth can't they sell them in the Domain if Communist propaganda is allowed to be. sold there ? The . Lawson Society will join in any movemont to get the Chief Secritary to upset the stand taken hy the police." Miss Bertha Lawson, a daughter of the poet: — "It does seem absurd. I I know Mr. Sullivan, who was refused permission to sell the poems, ' quite well. Every lover of my f ather's ■ work will deplore the official attitude." Mrs. J. T. Lang, a sister of Mrs. 'Henry Lawson, preferred not to eomment.