JJoynson Hicks, replying to the debate, declared that socialism as ducted by the Labour party perfectly legal. He had no hesitation is saying that Socialist Sunday schools was an absolutely legal method of Socialist propaganda. Anyone in the country could hold what} [views he liked as to the desirability Jof changing the constitution or a3 to the truth or otherwise of the Christian religion, That was not sedition or blasphemy. What they, had to find out was where the dividing line came between the holding of ideas with regard to communism Jor Christianity which were perfectly legal and the propagation of those ideas in a certain manner' which' might become illegal. The present Dill aimed at making what was actually sedition or blasphemy a matter for summary jurisdiction stead of being dealt with by the] cumbrees method of indictment. 1 thought the Government had come to a right decision to allow a free vote of the House.
The second reading of the Bill was carried by 213 votes to 85.—
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.