BIBLE IN POLITICS.
MR MASSEY AND HECKLERS. (Per PretS Association.) WELLINGTON, July 17.. The politics of some Biblical heroes was the cause of a crossfire of interjection, chiefly benches, during the Prime Minister j> sneech to-night, on the Religious InstSion in Schools Bill The Prime Minister has praised the literature and general teaching of the Bible. Me quoted freely from it to show that its doctrines were applicable to the conditions of present-day life. A storm of interjections broke out. Mr P Fraser (Labour): There were splendid land laws in the Bible. Mr Massey: Yes, based on the freehold system. (Laughter.) A Labour member: You read the Bible upside down. (Laughter.) Mr Fraser: What about the community ownership of land in the Bible .J There was a general interchange or comment in which one member said: "Nehemiah was a great Reformer. lie Hon. H. A. Hanan: What about M Mr S Massey: The hon. member is thinking about his namesake J°«eph. (Loud laughter.) He was a leasehold-
er. (Laughter.) Another member: So was Moses a leaseholder. . '■ .' . ... i j Mr Massey: It is laid down in the; Laws of Moses that after 60 years the land reverts to the rightful owner Mr D. G. Sullivan: mat about the Biblical instruction hot to add held to field, nor house to house, as you are doing? (Laughter.) Mr Massey: Oh, no An Opposition member: What about the usurer? Is he not with us.' Mr Massey: Read what David says of the usurer in the loth Psalm. The Hon. D. Buddo: It is a pity you can't apply it here. Mr Massey: I agree, it is a pity. (I Mr gh l?air: Joseph instituted the first wheat pool. „ . Mr Massey: He was the first to attempt to nationalise the land and the first leaseholder. Egypt has not recovered to this day. (Loud laughter.) Another Labour member: Moses was the first strike leader. Mr Massey: He did not lead any strike. He led his people, and led them successfully. A Labour member: There were nc railways in those days. (Loud laugh-
the interjections died down, Mr Massey proceeded with his speech.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10163, 18 July 1924, Page 5
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356BIBLE IN POLITICS. Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10163, 18 July 1924, Page 5
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