“NOT IN SAFETY ZONE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1939, Page 3

“NOT IN SAFETY ZONE”

MR. SEMPLE AND DEFENCE. [PEB PBEBB ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, April 15. The Minister for Transport (Mr. Semple), speaking after a luncheon following the opening of the Whirokino trestle bridge to-day, made a most definite statement on what he considered were the duties of every physically fit man in New Zealand, irrespective of age, should New Zealand be threatened. “We in this little country, far as we are from the nerve centres of a world in which, fast communications have destroyed distance, cannot regard ourselves as safe,” he. said. “We may be within the Tour corners of the world where a conflict may rage. It. is the duty of every physically fit man in this country to hold himself in readiness for the defence of New Zealand.

“Some people may say, - l thought, you were a pacifist.’ 1 never was in my life and lam not to-day.” Mr. Semple, said that he had got into trouble with the Government of 1914 because he fought the war profiteers because he regarded them as an enemy as great as the Kaiser of that. day. “No one is going to take blood money while we are in power.” continued Mr. Semple. “I say to you definitely that this country is not. in the safety zone; it is in the danger zone on account of modern facilities at. the command of modern nations, and at the risk of being called a Jingo, 1 say again, every fit man in this country has to take his place if ever this country is threatened. “You may say you are too old. I am not. too old. Those who are lit. whether they are boy or are 60, will have to do their part. I do not want you to go away thin king I am a scaremonger; I want to say again, however, that we are not in the safety zone.” Mr. Semple’s remarks were deeply stirring, and they were responded to with real enthusiasm.