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Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 6, June 24th, 1949.

No Marx-No Marks

No Marx-No Marks

Why was it necessary for a wave of foot-stamping to rattle through the gallery before the judges could make their decision in the Australia versus New Zealand Debate? It must have been that they could not decide which team was supposed to be upholding which case. According to my programme, the motion was "That Communist Parties in Western Democracies Should Be Abolished," but as all the speakers had apparently "agreed not to disagree" on this point, they spent a pleasant evening debating the most efficient means by which the Communist Party might be abolished. On both sides competent intellects and admirable histrionic talents were put to the mundane task of collating, classifying, and presenting the nose-horizoned editorials of the local dailies.

Sydney's Roden: "The very existence of Communist Parties in Western countries is a breach of the law." They "advise, advocate and teach" the violent overthrow of constitutional forms of government. This is treason and the law should be enforced. "The principles of free speech is a principle of anarchy. All States impose limitations: the difference is only of extent. The Communist Party endangers the general welfare, and must be suppressed."

Auckland's O'Sullivan: For its adherents it is a religion, has its saints and martyrs ... its dynamic expansionist missionary programme. Abolish would mean "persecute," perhaps "liquidate." From Nero to Diocletian the Romans had tried to suppress the Christian church, martyrs had been used to "light the Appalachian Way with their flaming bodies." Communism was "born of suppression . . . when workers really had nothing to lose but their chains ... If the blood of the martyrs has been the seed of the Church, so it has been of this faith." It thrives on being outlawed . . . where it has been given its licence it has had least effect . . . spiritual forces are not dissolved by seeking to destroy the organisation that contains them. (No, he didn't mention the Inquisition.)

Adelaide Hermes: For the sake of "common decency," "every fair-minded man would welcome the findings of" the Royal Commission on Communism held in Russia—er-ah—Canada! "It should finally bring home the truth to those dillettantes in Communism, and the long-hairs in the Universities." he said, the light twinkling on his glossy pink pate.

VUC's O'Connor: "Forbidden fruit tastes sweetest" banning "Forever Amber" gave it vogue and popularity." "Western democracies are reaping what they have sown." "When a man like Paul Robeson supports Communism, it is not because social justice exists under capitalism." The best way to cure some evils is to produce their opposite good. Our duty is to maintain social and economic health so that Communism cannot flourish.

Sydney's Webster: The spiritual quality of social crusade is present in Communism, but not in the Communist Party. The danger to-day ceases to be Forever Amber and becomes Red.

VUC's O'Brien: "... from my side, the light would be Green." Would Mr. Webster also extract Christianity from the Christian Church? What profiteth it a man that he insulate his mind and suffer the loss of his intellectual integrity? Suppression of the Communist Party in France, where one-third of the Deputies are Communists, would result in chaos, civil war, the very conditions in which the Communist Party has its best opportunity to power. If Communists infringe the law, adequate provision exists to deal with them. He suggested that Mr. Roden lay charges with the police when he returns to Sydney.

Roden was the most commanding speaker; fierce, fluent, and volatile, he was the only one to make the Town Hall rafters ring. For New Zealand, O'Brien made the best showing, O'Connor was not his usual vituperative self, though he took hecklers in his stride.

Mr. O'Sulllvan, in thanking the Judges, felt that in view of his team's Hibernian combination, the Australians should be thankful for small Murphies.

Mr. Roden, leader of the victors, decided he was "not Cohen to say what he had been Cohen to say," after all.

—Francis Gawn.