The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, DEC. 18th, 1939. UGLY DISCLOSURES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 102, 18 December 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, DEC. 18th, 1939. UGLY DISCLOSURES

WHAT the Minister of Public Works has had to say in an interview in Christchurc'h concerning threats against his personal safety that have been made by members! of Communist organisations in New Zealand is distinctly unpleasant' reading. Mr Semple, as is well enough known, is accustomed to taking hard knocks delivered in open dispute wfith those who disagree with his political views. On the public platform or elsewhere he is wetl able to take care of himself, and, indeed,- appears to enjoy nothing better than the joining of an issue with a political opponent. It is impossible, however, to view with anything but repugnance such tactics as, according to the disclosure now made by the Minister, have been employed against him by members of that extreme political section to whose, subversive activities he has lately been directing public attention. Scores of anonymous letters have been sent to his home, Mr Semple states, threatening not only the destruction of his property but actually bis life. Not even Mrs Semple has escaped the attention of the reactionary elements named by the Minister. This is a state of affairs that can only be deplored as happening under a system of government which, by its very elasticity, provides opportunity for practices that are cowardly as they are anti-social. It is to be hoped that Mr Semple, having at last been provoked into open denunciation of these enemies of society, will not be content to let the matter rest there*. There seems to be more than enough cause, in the experiences described by him, for police inquiry of the most searching nature.