COMMUNISTS ATTACKED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 116, 13 November 1939, Page 9

COMMUNISTS ATTACKED

START OF CAMPAIGN

MINISTERS LEAD THE WAY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, November 12,

An active campaign against Communists or others with unsympathetic views within the New Labour Party has been launched by the Government. The first direct attack was made by two Ministers.of the Crown, who attended a' specially-convened meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Federation of Labour on Friday night. They were the Minister of Public Works (the 'Hon. R. Semple) and the Minister of Labour (tl^e Hon. P. C. Webb).

j The spread of views held to be either Communist or destructive to the Labour j cause within thf trades unions in Christchurch is reported to have been so serious in recent months that I Ministers, with official support, decided to make special addresses to .union representatives.

That section which was known within the federation to be out of sympathy with the Government's policy is reported to have been fully aware beforehand of the purpose of the Ministers' addresses and to have organised a counter. However, they, kept silent at the meeting after'a few interjections had been solidly suppressed.

« . ' A strong attack on. Communists and those charged with undermining the Labour Party and the Government was made by Mr. Semple./ Men who attended the meeting described the Minister as having been at the height of invectiveness in his condemnation of actions subversive to the Labour Party. . .:.'./ ~, ' j "No one was game to challenge 1 Mr.. Semple, for he would have belted their ears off," was the summary of the proceedings given by an observer. A more placatory attitude, was adopted by Mr. Webb, it is understood. He made an appeal for co-operation from all Workers, "fie result of the meeting was that delegates unanimously passed. a motion expressing confidence in the Government. and the Labour Party arid pledging their;, full supporr ;/ ■'.."/.