"THE USEFUL PEOPLE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 149, 27 June 1938, Page 10

"THE USEFUL PEOPLE"

As the self-appointed champion of clean political fighting, Mr. Semple continues to pursue strange methods, and if'his latest outburst at Christchurch on Friday night y causes the public to'question His ■ sincerity, he will have himself to blame. The people of New Zealand have become accustomed to the extravagant flights of language which mark speeches by the Minister of Public Works and have even regarded some of his , best efforts as good public entertainment. As the General Election comes nearer, however, Mr. Semple is showing an inclination to become more and more extravagant and to overstep the bounds. His Christchurch statement is a case in point. When speaking at Johnsonville at the beginning of this month, Mr. Semple predicted that the coming fight would be a dirty one, and he went on to urge that "the contest should be kept clean in the interests of the people, and should be fought on fundamental issues." At Christchurch, Mr. Semple, forgetting "fundamental issues," went out of his way to make a bitter personal attack on the Leader of the Opposition. In no way can the attack be justified. Mr. Hamilton has given many years of service to his country, and, whatever opinions may be held by a section of the public about his political beliefs, there is no room for the slightest suggestion against his personal character. Mr. Semple's references to Mr. Hamilton will be resented by many thousands of people who do not allow their political outlook to warp their sense of fair play. In his summing-up of this year's campaign*, togn Mr. §emple was just^

as unfortunate in his choice of language. "It is going to be a proper trial of strength—with the useful people on the one hand and the usurers on the other," he said. The suggestion is that only those people who see fit to support the Socialistic policy of the Labour Party have any right to regard themselves as useful members of the community. All others are beyond the pale. The Minister of Public Works must have a very poor opinion of the intelligence and selfrespect of the people of New Zealand if he expects them to endorse his classification. The majority of electors at the last General Election voted against the Socialistic doctrines of Mr. Semple and his colleagues. Apparently to Mr. Semple they are not useful people. We can agree, however, that their votes are not likely to be useful to Labour this year.