This thesis examines the banning of a communist speaker. Lieutenant E.A.H. Laurie, at
Melbourne Teachers' College in July, 1944 and argues that the decision to ban Laurie
was unwarranted and politically motivated. The banning, which was enforced by the
Minister for Public Instruction, Thomas Tuke Hollway, appears to have been based on
Hollway's firm anti-communist views and political opportunism. A. J. Law, Principal of
the Teachers' College, was also responsible for banning Laurie. However, Law's
decision to ban Laurie was probably directed by Hollway and supported by J. Seitz,
Director of Education.