LIFE IN DANGER ?

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 2

LIFE IN DANGER ?

THREATS TO MR. SEMPLE.

ANONYMOUS LETTERS RECEIVED

[per press association..

CHRISTCHURCH, December 7. Threats to his life and of damage to his property have been made against the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Semple). Disclosures of the actions and threats against him were made to-day by Mr. Semple in an interview with‘'“The Press,” in which hre set out to justify his campaign against the Communists. * “They talk about my violent attacks on them!” exclaimed Mr. Semple scornfully. “The attacks upon myself have been not only violent, but in some cases criminal. J have let them pass without retaliating, because 1 have bigger things to do.

“[ have had scores of anonymous letters, sent to my home, threatening my life and threatening to burn my home down. Emery powder was put into the crank-case and teed supply of my private motor-car and sugar was put in the benzine tank. Even now, I have to telephone the Kilbirnie police when Mrs. Semple and I leave, to ask them to keep an eye on my home. I have been threatened on many occasions by anonymous letters and my wife has received letters of a similar type telling' hei' that she would be a widow before long. “I have my own opinion where these documents and' cowardly threats came from, because this vendetta against me began at the time when 1 was purging the ranks of the Public Works of that type of men. And now the Communist Party and their crowd have the audacity to charge me with making violent aud unprovoked attacks on them.” From the supporters of the Communist Party, said the Minister, he had had his share of slander. When he took over the Public Works Department, the Communists did their damndest to prevent any progress being made. They refused to work and tried to persuade others not to work. Throughout the Dominion, they carried out vile and criminal propaganda on the jobs until he cleaned then) out; if he had not done so, progress would have been impossible. He had not formerly talked publicly about their attacks on him since he had condemned their loafing and treachery to prevent the smooth working of his department. Now that they squealed because he attacked them, it was well that the public should know how cowardly and hypocritical they were.