Robert Semple.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 32, 13 October 1911, Page 8

Robert Semple.

— —JfT- ;■■'';. : :• The Gareep, of an, Agitator

AN INTER : feST'IMC SKETCH.

Robert Semple, Dominfqiv organiser, N.Z.F.L, is a natiyc pf,N ; 'At aal early age he became a> in the coal.mines, in LithgOAv,- yand later worked in the mihes-j-of (Newcastle. .. Semple first became'sactively5actively associated with the Labor 'movement in Victoria; Being -attracted to ;sye.stralia, he worked in the, Collie coalfield, and became president of the Collie Miners' Union. - Leaving C6l!ie : ' fOr. *he goldfields, Semple 'saw' muchvacti've "service in the industrial ahd jjolitical AVorkiiigelass movement. Compelled to leave W.A. through ill-health of Mrs. Semple, he secured employment, inKurumburria, and ere long was 'president of the local branch V.C.M.A. Six months later the great Vietdrian.; coal strike took place, when'the Flinders. Lane plutocrats demanded 4 the - abolition of the Coal Miners' Union, .yy- '; ; Throughout thai',,, .struggle, which lasted for 20 months, andduring whioh time but three members ..of the organisation turned scabs, Semple played a prominent, part. ,He >yas chosen to visit W.A. and parts ,of S.A. to secure financial assistance,. for his. coworkers, and was highly. successful m his mission. ,;.«.., ... . .

When the strike ended he was forced to leave Australia in order to obtain employment, so came to Ncav Zealand, and eventually secured work .at the State mine. At thaiytime. there Avas no. organisation in existence, and the conditions of employment Avere extremely bad. .In conjunction Avith Jack O'Loughliu—iioav of' Lyttelton—Semple formed a union,, and was chosen president and, together with Secretary. O'Loughlin. drafted the first agreement. Leaving the State mine, Semple for two years Avorked in tlie> railway tunnels oil th© Midland Raihvay.. On returning to. Runanga ..he. again, Avas elected president of the local Union, and since then a material; advance has been made by that body.. Recognising that sectional unionism Avas obsolete. Semple, with-- others, ad-vocated-the inauguration of closer organisation, and Avas ultimately chosen in co-operation Avith P. H. Hickey (Blackball) to visit the various West Coast Unions.J.n...otrder to bring them together."'" In this they were highly successful. When the Federation' Avas formed Semple Avas elected president, and since that time his strong."hand has guided the organisation safely -through a veritable sea of difficulties.. _ Confronted Avith " seemingly insurmountable odds, the Federation has, thanks to the "wonderful courage, energy and ability of 'Bob Semple, conquered them all. Unanimously elected organiser and re-elected on fcAvo subsequent occasions, Semple lias shown extraordinary ability for the position. Gifted Avith a strong ppisonality. coupled Avith indomitable courage and an eloquent tongue, Semple has made Avorking-class history in New. Zenlaud. It is no exaggeration, to say that in the labor movement of, Ncav Zealand today then 1 ii-; no stronger force than that incorruptible agitator, that persistent advocate of revolutionary work-ing-class action, fearless Bob Semple — feared by plutocracy, hated by timeservers, but loved by thousands of plain, common people throughout Ncav Zealand. . ~.-—^