ADDRESS BY MR. SEMPLE, M.P

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1991, 17 June 1919, Page 3

ADDRESS BY MR. SEMPLE, M.P

Mr R. .Semple, M.P. for Wellington Central, delivered a political address, under the auspices of the N.Z. Party, in the Town Hall last night, to a large audience. The president of the local branch of the Labour Parly occupied the chair. Mr Semple caustically criticised the National Government, and referred to leaders as political despots. Their rule favoured the few as against the interests of the many. It was not government of the people by the people for the people. He went on to explain that the Reform Party were returned to power by a minority. The Labour Party advocated proportional representation ‘on a national basis, whereby minorities as well as majorities would be represented. He then dealt at some length with proportional representation, the initiative, and right of recall. Mr Semple referred to the struggles for power between the two leaders in 1911. Mr Massey had said that if Sir Joseph Ward was allowed to go on with his borrowing policy it would spell ruin to the country. He quoted authoritative figures which showed that the Liberals had borrowed £2,000,000, and with thei:» combined efforts £13,000,000 had been secured. Dealing with war profiteering, Mr Semple asked if any sensible man could say that it was a reasonable, just, or moral thing to extract money from the pockets of the people during such a strenuous time as the war period »just experienced. He quoted many instances, especially in regard to combines, and the Union Co, in particular. He declared that flour millers were no exception. The position respecting coal supply was minutely told, showing that the reason for the'present huge price to the consumers was because of the enormous sums derived by the shipping companies for transport, and alos the profit margins of the “coalgamblers.” Nearly £BO,OOO bad been paid t» the Union Company in a year for transport from the mines, which figure was higher than th| total paid to all the managers and men employed in actual production. The conditions the men worked under were appalling, yet some people asked why do they strike? The wage some men received was only Is lid per ton, Avbile the shipping companies got 10s per ton, and by the time it readied the consumer the price was from £3 10s to £1 10s per ton. The only way to remedy the whole thing was by nationalisation of all colleries. Then- there would he built decent homes for the miners, making the calling attractive, and not repulsive. The coal should ho. taken from the pick to the consumers, thus cutting the “gamblers” out. Touching on land aggregation, Mr Semple said one man in Hawke’s Bay owned enough land to enable the 200,000 families a quar-ter-acre section on which they could build a house. There were (SO million acres of land in New Zealand, and it only took 50,000 acres to give each family (he amount suggested. This the Government could do if it would only exercise backbone. The speaker emphasised the necessity of something being done in regard to (be housing problem. Of the 000,000 voters in New Zealand, fully 450,000 were landless. He referred to the Public Debt and borrowing, to the huge profits which 1 had been made daring the Avar, which enabled the profiteers to lend tb is blood money back to the State upon Avhich interest Avonld have to be paid by generations yet unborn. Had Hie Labour Party been in power, not one penny piece of Avar profits would have been alloAved. Proflt-mongering Avas an offence.

The lives of men were conscripted, but wealth was let off . The prison gates were left open to receive men who objected to this kind of thing, and to stop such propaganda. Lives were conscripted, while the purse strings of the rich were allowed to grow to bursting point. He dealt with the increase,, of unimproved values of land during the past few years, which was scandalous, and unearned increment was nothing more than villainous robbery. The capitalist classes controlled the press, police courts and Parliament, and the Labour Party were up against a tremendous influence. The speaker then dealt trenchantly with the Upper House, which was stuffed with political rejects, and which he referred to as the political hone yard. The Labour Party was out for its abolition. The Parly advocated the right of women to sit in Parliament, ami the equality of the sexes. He dealt with the shim areas, and said that every person had the right to possess a piece of earth and comfortable housing, Mr Semple warned his audience against sectarianism, an | said the Party advocated the right of every man to worship God as he thought fit. In reply to a question, Mr Semple said that Mr AY. A r eiteh was not a member of the Labour Party. Another questioner asked whether publicans should he allowed to sell beer at all hours and times. Mr Semple said that was a matter to he settled by the village policeman. On the motion of Mr Rand, the speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, and dicers wei’e called for and given for the Labour Party.