THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22437, 25 June 1938, Page 16

THE GENERAL ELECTION

Minister’s View Of Contest MR SEMPLE IN CRITICAL MOOD "It is going to be a proper trial of strength—with the useful people on the one hand and the usurers on the other.” So the Minister for Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, stated his view of the coming General Election campaign when speaking at a Labour rally last evening in Christchurch. “The people who want the perpetuation of usury will align themselves together as never before,” the Minister said, “and with all the influence of money, backed by a section of the press, they will fight. We must remember to fight hard, too. That is why I am fighting now, when I ought to be home with my wife having a rest. But we realise that we cannot win the election fight by sitting up in Wellington.

“The people have become politically minded. Mr Hamilton has said that. But he was on the wrong track when he gave his reasons. He says it is because the people fear a Labour Government, but they are getting politically minded because they fear that Mr Hamilton and his crowd will come back. They fear a return to the clothes drives and soup kitchens.” , “I have known all the Prime Ministers of New Zealand since Seddon,’ the Minister added. “I have known Seddon, Ward, Hall-Jones, Mackenzie (a Prime Minister for a fortnight). W. F. Massey (I knew him exceedingly well, because he put me in the cooler about five or six times), Coates, and Forbes, and the present gentleman at the head of the National Party. But I declare that I would rather have had any of them a thousand times than this new leader of the National Party. He is the toughest of the gang. If you do not believe me, put him in and see. Do not say lam vindictive or spiteful when I say that I would rather have Mr Coates than 10 Hamiltons. He has some good qualities. That man has none. If we win this time the members of his party will all die of dry-rot in three months.” Mr Semple, talking of his recent tours, said that while he had addressed 37 meetings and met thousands of farmers in many districts, he had not heard from them one word of complaint of the guaranteed price.