MINISTER MEETS MEN

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23299, 8 April 1941, Page 8

MINISTER MEETS MEN

Railway Workshop Employees

SUPPORT PLEDGED (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 7. . “I will investigate any of your grievances, but I will not stand for pointing a pistol at my head, using knuckledusters, stabbing,in the PacK, holding secret meetings, or any form of conspiracy that will hold up the war effort of the country,” declared the Minister for Railways (the Hon. R. Semple), m addressing a mass meeting of employees at the Otahuhu railway workshops. The Minister, who was accompanied by the general manager of Railways (Mr E. Casey), was given a hearty reception, and a resolution was unanimously adopted pledging support to the Government and its war effort. In appealing for a reciprocal effort on the part of workshops* employees, the Minister said he did not want to be regarded as the boss or master, but as a friend and workmate. As such he would consider any alleged grievances or wrongs, and rectify them where possible. The task of winning the war transcended all others, and the maximum effort was necessary from all sections of the community. “There was no other road we could take,” declared the Minister, in regard to the Dominion’s part in the war. “There are only two sides of the fence —Hitler’s and ours. The doors of mercy and the gates of reason were slammed in the face of Britain and other parts of the Empire. For ’myself, I would rather perish on the. hillsides or in the valleys of New Zealand than yield to the forces that are seeking to enslave free peoples,” he declared, amid cheers. It was no time to hold inquests on what had been done in the past. “Custodians of Liberty” “If you were escaping from a sinking ship you would not hold a stopswim meeting--to discuss whether the captain had done right,” said Mr Semple. “There will be plenty of time after our survival for making ir v-ests and passing judgments. Wc a..: the only custodians of liberty, and we have a sacred charge and/holy obligation to maintain it, and to die if necessary before we give it away. There is_ no safety zone in this war, and New Zealand is no longer an isolated country immffne from war.” _ . Mr Semple said the people of Britain were working more than 80 hours a week, and had votdfcd to die amid the ruins of their cities rather than surrender. “England is our first line of defence. The people there are working for us, suffering, fighting and dying for., us. The least we can do is to give our maximum effort to help. I am confident that if you are called upon to make a special effort you will do it. All I ask is that you are manly and straightforward with me. I ask you to join together, work together, and fight together to hold New Zealand free from enslavement,” declared the Minister. ____________