MR SEMPLE’S DENUNCIATION OF COMMUNISTS APPROVED

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1948, Page 7

MR SEMPLE’S DENUNCIATION OF COMMUNISTS APPROVED

CHRISTCHURCH, April 12 The State Theatre was packed and many could not gam admittance when the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Sempie, opened a public speaking campaign against the Communists last night. The Minister was given an attentive hearing, and at the conclusion, the Lollowmg resolution, moved by Mr T. H. Langford, was carried with only two dissentients:— “The public meeting, alter hearing the address of Mr R. aemple, is satisfied that Communists present a serious menace to the country, in that they owe no allegiance to the British Commonwealth, take their instruction from a foreign Power, and, being sworn opponents of our way of lire, will do everything in their power to smash democracy and establish the dictatorship of tne proletariat by the use of force and disfranchisement of all those who disagree with them, such as recently happened in Czechoslovakia and other European countries, and pledges its support to the Government in whatever steps it may deem necessary to take to ensure that this danger in our midst is kept in check.” The subject of Mr Semple’s address was “Why I Fight Communism.” Mr R. M. Mcfarlane, M.P., presided, and with him on the stage were the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard), Mr J. Mathison, M.P., and Mr T. H. Langford. “I. am not here to attack the form of government of any one country in the world.” said Mr Semple. “ I have always been a firm believer in the principle of self-determination of nations. I believe that the people of every country have the unfettered right to adopt their own form of government. A nation has no more right to dictate to another nation than you or 1 have the right to interfere with another man’s family circle. INDUSTRIAL UNREST I “What we all look for—indeed, pray I for —is peace and prosperity in our I own land, even if we are unable to see these things achieved in other lands. But there r.re those amongst us who seek to create industrial unrest and economic instability. These individuals are not foreigners. Many of them are New Zealanders, born and bred, but they are enemies of this country and our way of life. Worse than that, these people, known to us as Communists, are the dupes of a foreign Power, They are out to wreck democracy and our form of government,” he continued. "I condemn them as our internal enemies, as people who would first wreck the Labour Party and the Government to prepare the way for their glorious dream of dictatorship.” In Queensland industry was paralysed, and thousands of women and children suffered, said Mr Semple. The Communists went to Queensland from all the States, and created trouble tor nothing. A voice: “Prove it.” Mr Semple: “it is there to be seen. You go over (\nd you’ll damn soon find out. You do the dirty you do here to the Russian people and you’d be missing.” A voice: ‘Don’t you go there!” Mr Semple: I am not going. I am happy where I am. My job is to keep this country clean ok ratbags like.,you. There were calls of “Gpod on you, Bob,” and Mr Semple added: "If any of you have come here to have fun. it wont’ be at my expense.” The sooner the trade unions got. rid of Communists the better, he said. The Communist Party was public enemy No 1. He auoted instructions which, ho said, were sent to the Communists of New Zealand, and from Communist propaganda. “I have enough evidence here to hang them,” he added. NOT WANTED HERE “Ninety-eight per cent, of the people of this country are with me in this fight. This cou/try believes in democracy. Dictatorship is the end of democracy and beginning of a servne State. We don’t want that. I don’t stand for the dictatorship of the proletariat. from the top or the bottom. “If this new order comes, millions will have padlocks on their lips, tampers on their souls, and manacles on their limbs. You and I are the trustees of the priceless gift of liberty. We would be a nation of cowards if we let our birthright go. “The very freedoms which we cherish are the freedoms which make it possible for these Communistic traits to sow their seeds of civil war and anarchy. We do not believe that what has happened elsewhere can happen here.” That was the same type of reasoning as that oi the average Czechoslovakian workman, he added. The Pole, and Yugoslav, and other Europeans were apathetic enough to let. the Communistic minority gain control. It could happen here 3 New Zealand, and it. was time the people took an active interest in the affairs of those individuals to ensure that at no time were they in a position to impose the will of the minority or, the' apathetic majority. “I wish your son never comes back. I look every day to see him among the killed.” That was quoted by Mr Semple as an extract from a letter he had received during the war. “That is the sort of human reptile you’ve got to deal with,” he said. “People who send that kind of thing out haven’t sufficient moral courage to put the Boston crab on a blowfly,” he added. On the motion of the chairman, Mr Semple was accorded a vote of thanks and good wishes were expressed fo.' his campaign.