THREATS’ TO LIFE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 December 1939, Page 4

THREATS’ TO LIFE

DISCLOSED BY MR SEMPLE SCORES OF ANONYMOUS LETTERS. JUSTIFICATION OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST COMMUNISTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. December 7. Threats to his life and of damage to his property have been made against the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple. Disclosures of the actions and threats against him were made today by Mr Semple in an interview, in which he set out to justify his campaign against Communists. “They talk about my violent attacks on them,” said Mr Semple. "Attacks upon myself have been not only violent but in some cases criminal. I have let them pass without retaliating because 1 have bigger things to do. I have had scores of anonymous letters sent to my home threatening my life and threatening to burn my home down. Emery powder was put into the crankcase and feed supply of my private motor-car, and sugar was put in the benzine tank. “Even now I have to telephone the Kilbirnie police when Mrs Semple and I leave to ask them to keep an eye on my home. “I have been threatened on many occasions by anonymous letters, and my wife has received letters of a similar type telling her that she would be a widow before long. “I have my own opinion where these documents and cowardly threats came from, because this vendetta against me began at a time when I was purging the ranks of the Public Works of that type of men, and now the Communist Party and their crowd have the audacity to charge me with making violent and unprovoked attacks on them.” From supporters of the Communist Party, said the Minister, he had had his share of slander. When he took over the Public Works Department Communists "did their damndest” to prevent any progress being made. They refused to work and tried to persuade others not to work. Throughout the Dominion they carried out “vile and criminal propaganda” on jobs till he "cleaned them out.” If he had not done so progress would have been impossible. He had not formerly talked publicly’ about their attacks on him, since he had condemned their “loafing and treachery” to prevent the smooth working of his department. Now that they “squealed” because he attacked them, it was well that the public should know how “cowardly and hypocritical" they were.