COMMUNIST'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 51, 2 March 1937, Page 16

COMMUNIST'S REPLY

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

MR. SEMPLE CHALLENGED

(By Telegraph—l'ress Association.)

DUNEDIN,. March. 1.

In connection with the statement made by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), when he referred to "poisonous literature" being disseminated by the Communist Party in public works camps, Mr. Leo Sim. general secretary of the Communist Parly in New Zealand, has issued the following reply to Mr. Semple's allegations:— . , . ;.... ■' ] ■

"Mr. Semple has from time to time made very wild and unfounded statements against the Communist Party, and this latest statement ■ wherein- he refers to the literature we.: distribute as being poisonous is in .my opinion made solely with the object of undermining the influence our party has:at the present time. Such statements- as these made by Mr. Semple would not, I am sure, be endorsed by- the majority of people comprising the Labour Party, ana no doubt it is time that the Labour, movement took' steps to prevent its. leaders, from adopting an -attitude which would tend to disunite the forces of progress arid allow the forces of reaction to gain ground. Such statements as a refusal to allow halls in 1 public works camps' to be used for the holding'of meetings where workers might' invite, a Communist to address them can hardly be reconciled with Labour's advocacy of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. I 1 repeat my challenge to Mr. Semple made at Christchurch .a'few days ago .to debate with him from, any'public platform in New Zealand 'that any ;literature the Communist' Party .circulates can be characterised as. poisonous., It Ayould seem to me- that Mr. Semple' .has changed his colour somewhat since', he. made a public utterance in 'the Empress Theatre, Wellington,, some years ago, when he stated that if he were m Ireland he would be.' a Sinn Feiner, and if he were.in Russia he would be a Bolshevik. He further stated that the day the capitalist ■ Press eulogised. Robert Semple would-be the day the workers of New Zealand should disown him." -■■■•• ■,