PROMPT DISMISSAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 118, 17 April 1940, Page 6

PROMPT DISMISSAL.

SYMPATHISER WITH RUSSIA. MR SEMPLE’S ANSWER. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN," April 16. A workman who deieudect Russia s action in Finland and told the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) that lie was not as good a man as Stalin lost his job oil the Haast Pass Road suddenly this afternoon. These remarks were made while Air Semple was addressing the men working on the road, and the atmosphere in the hall where the incident took place was tense while the Minister told the man what he thought of him, gave instructions for him to be dismissed immediately, and stated in vigorous language that if he had any sympathisers in the camp they could go, too. The attitude of the great majority of the men in the hall indicated plainly that they approved of the Minister’s action. Jlr Semple, who was accompanied by the Minister of Alines (Hon. P. CAYebb) was addressing the men on tho subject of tlie war effort and was pointing out that, without the help of Great Britain, New Zealand could easily share the fate of the small nations that had been invaded in the past year or two. “Look what happened to Finland,” lie said. “If the British Commonwealth went, if the British Navy 'went, that might quite likely happen to us. The Russian invasion of Finland was one of tlie greatest examples of international cowardice the world has ever seen.”

“It was not cowardice.” shouted a man at the back of the hall. “What! It was not cowardice?” Mr Semple asked incredulously. “No, it was not.” the mail repeated. “That is my opinion, anyway.” Mr Sempie: Well, you are a traitor and a coward.

“I am not a political twister, anyway.” the man replied. “I knew there weie one o r two of them here,” the Minister said, “but they won’t l>o here long, -ml if that is the sort of opinion vou hold you won't be here long either.” “Tluit won’t worry me,” was the reply.

DESPERATE STRUGGLE AHEAD. Continuing his speech, Air Semple said the British people had a desperate struggle ahead of them to-day to defend their liberty, and anyone who would not fight such a challenge had not “the guts of a whitebait-.” Some people seemed to think there was liberty in Russia, but lie personally could draw no distinction between Russia and Germany. Stalin was just as big a murderer as Hitler. The same iliterjector : He is a better man than you. Mr Semple (angrily): He is what? The man (slightly subdued): He is as good a. man as you. “You dirty cur,” the Minister said. “I never murdered a man in my life.” The man : Neither did Stalin. Mr Semple: Ho has murdered hundreds of his fellow countrymen. Mr Semple sat down shortly afterward amid loud applause. Later, when the men had been addressed by Mr Webb and by Air W. A. Bodkin, member for Central Otago, lie rose to his feet again. “I want to know whether there are any sympathisers with til’s man in the camp.” ho said. “If there are they can go out as well, because he is going now.” “You are an unmitigated our,” Air Semple said, addressing the man directly. “You are an enemy of the British Empire, and a plague spot among men. Types like you are going to he cleaned right out of the Public Worl,- s of New Zealand.” AVhen the meeting was over the man. was dismissed by the engineer in charge of the work and quietly left the hall.