COMMUNIST REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 10

COMMUNIST REPLY

The Wellington provincial committee of the Communist Party forwards a statement in reply to the Mayor's criticism. The statement, after setting out the aims of the party, claims that "the issues have been greatly confused by the way in which the Mayor, Mr. Semple, and others have lumped all consideration of the very deep differences in their fundamental outlook.

. . . The serious charge that Communists are 'direct agents of foreign Powers' is utterly ridiculous to anyone with the slightest knowledge of the work of the Communist Party. Its policy is determined by annual conferences within the country. Less than 1 per cent, of its members are nonBritish; more than half are New Zealand born; many are descendants of j pioneers, and all belong to the movement precisely because it means advancement for New Zealand. This is the first answer to Mr. Semple's 'offer' (which we now hear of for the first time) to 'find the fare of one of the Communist leaders to go.to Russia and carry on propaganda against the actions of the rulers.' The second answer is obvious to anyone with a sense of logic; if Mr. Semple considers us to be 'glorifiers of the red murderer Stalin,' why on earth should he expect us to go to Russia and criticise him? The Communist Party advocates friendship with the Soviet Union for the same reason as Mr. Semple and others are hostile; because it is a Socialist country." In conclusion the party contends that "the chain of threats and allegations made by public men this week can have only .one object: to endeavour to muzzle freedom of speech and assembly."