LIBERTY AT STAKE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20112, 5 December 1939, Page 4

LIBERTY AT STAKE

DICTATORS ASSAILED MR. SEMPLE IN FORM FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY NO ROOM FOR DISSENSION “Stalin is just as big a murderer as Hitler. He has gone into Finland to murder, and innocent women and children there are being crucified by a red-eyed monster ambitious to conquer the world,” said the ’ Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, at a social gathering of members of the Labour Party in Greymouth. “Everyone knows my opinion of war,” Mr. Sample said. “From North Cape to Bluff I have preached my views. War is the negation of reason, is the beginning of madness, is against all Christian principles, is a demon 6f dissension and a product of the jungle. Still, here it is with us and it is not of our making. We have to do the best we can for you all and we are not going ■to hand over the destinies of the country to men who desire to impose want and penury on you. In the Danger Zone “We are in the danger zone. Make no mistake about that. It may be our turn soon. That to-day we in” the Dominion do possess a great measure of liberty is demonstrated from a gathering such as this. Can that be said of Russia, Germany or Italy? No, it can be said only of the United States and the British Empire. Civilisation is in the melting pot and we have to fight as never before to retain democracy. “(If I were asked to choose between Chamberlain or Hitler—that monster of the world —-then I am with Chamberlain,” Mr. Semple continued. And whtat of Stalin? He is just as big a .murderer as Hitler. Chamberlain may have his faults—indeed, he was rocked in the cradle of conservatism —'but he has never cut the throats of trade unionists who to-day have their rights and privileges. “Red-eyed Murderers” “Yet some there are who prefer that red-eyed, cold-blooded, double-bar-relled murderer Hitler and his colleague Stal'in. lif I have to choose, then I know where I am going. “There is no man living to-day on the face of God’s earth who can predidt the end of this terrible tragedy. If ever there was a time in our lives when we should hang together against fiendish aggression and bloodthirsty tyrants it is now and anyone of us in the Labour movement who tries to wreck our movement, or anyone else w!ho tries to cause dissension in the nation at a time like this, is a doublebarrelled traitor betraying the people. “To-day it is a question of despotism against democracy and in a struggle such as this there is no room for dissension, whatever our political views, “Can Look World in Face” ‘ “I can look the world in the face and say we are trying to d'o our best for the people of this country,” Mr. Sc-mple said. “Ask the critic what he would do and he will crumole um in five minutes like a snowiball in hell We Will go on doing our pest, Put we seek your goodwill, co-operation and tolerance.” At the end of the proceedings, which had begun with honouring the loyal toast the “Red Flag” was sung with enthusiasm by the large gathering. Mr. Semple did not join in the singing.