"OUTBURSTS."

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 8

"OUTBURSTS."

UNION'S ATTACK.

CASE OF MR. SEMPLE.

LIKE "FASCIST DEMAGOGUE."

DISCIPLINE URGED

Recent utterances by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, a*e severely criticised in a strongly worded resolution carried by the Auckland Builders', General and other Labourers' L'nion at a meeting last evening. ''These frequent outbursts of Mr. Semple we consider to be a danger to the unity of J>al>our> forces, and are typical of a Fascist dernajio-rue," .states the resolution, which among other things calls on the Labour movement and the Government to exercise disciplinary measures against any of its members who by their statements bring discredit to Labour's ranks. "The Auckland Builders and General Labourers' Union viewe with concern the utterances of Mr. Semple in dictating to the workers in Public Works camps the classes of literature that they shall read and discuss in thei* social halls, restricting particularly such matter that is of an advanced Radical nature," reads the resolution.

'"We consider euch an attitude to be an attack on the democratic rights of freedom of speech and assembly—one of the basic principles of Labour.

"Further, Mr. Seniple does not appear to be consistent, in so far as he claim* for himself the right to use whatever language he chooses in expressing freely his own opinions, whilst at the same time denying that right to the rank and rile workers who are the real Labour movement of this country.

"These frequent outbursts of Mr. Semple we consider to l>e a danger to the unity of Labour's forces, and are typical of a Fascist demagogue.

"We call upon the Labour movement and the Government to exercise disciplinary measures against any of its members who by such statements are bringing discredit and disunity to Labour's ranks."