IN “RED FUNK”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 5

IN “RED FUNK”

MR. LANG’S CHARGE FEDERAL MINISTRY CANBERRA, April 22. An allegation that the Government had silenced, both in the caucus and in Parliament, criticism by Labour members of its policy on communism, was made by Mr. J. T. Lang in the House of Representatives. He was speaking against a motion by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, suspending private members’ day today. Mr. Chifley’s motion, which was carried after the gag had been applied, meant that the House would not dis-

cuss today a motion by Mr. Lang “that the Communist Party and its auxiliaries should be declared illegal organisations.”

Mr. Lang spoke for 20 minutes in a storm of heckling. “The Government is afraid to allow members to vote on my motion,” he declared. “This is a Government without political morale and without political morals. “The fact is that it is in a red funk. Sooner or later it will have to face the issue contained in my motion, but it is making a pitiful attempt to save time by stalling in the hope that something will come up to make the decision on the burning question of the Communist Party not one for the Government.”

Mr. Chifley: I suspect you are aware there was a censure motion on this a few days ago. Mr. Lang: (shouting) And you are aware that you gagged me as well as members of your own party.

“Members of the Government benches are becoming restive.” he declared. “Maybe thev are in closer touch with their constituents than is the Prime Minister with his.”