EXPOSURE OF COMMUNISM IN NEW BOOK BY MR. SEMPLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 4

EXPOSURE OF COMMUNISM IN NEW BOOK BY MR. SEMPLE

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 23. A book exposing the origins, tactics, propaganda and intentions of communism is being prepared by the Minister of Works, Mr. R. Semple, and will shortly be placed in the hands of the printers. Mr. Semple said the publication would carry the campaign against communism further and his purpose was to make available to the people the facts of what he regarded as an international conspiracy so that they would best know how to combat the menace in New Zealand. The Minister said that his recent tour of the South Island convinced him that New Zealand workers were opposed to communism in which they could have no confidence and he was satisfied that all responsible elements in New Zealand would strongly support efforts to eliminate troublemakers from positions where they could do harm to the nation. Interest in Grave Question “Hundreds of people could not gain admission to my meetings in Christchurch and Dunedin ” said Mr. Semple. "The interest in this very grave question was greater than in an election meeting. There is no doubt where the real feelings of the real people of this country lie when the issue of communism is fairly and accurately presented.” He regarded the enthusiasm shown by the workers at Tekapo and Pukaki hydro-electric schemes when the facts

w r ere put before them as especially significant of the true attitude of New Zealand workers. However, it was clear that a good many people had no means of finding out the facts about communism conveniently, and, consequently, they could not realise that it was a conspiracy to promote civil war in all countries with the object of imposing world dictatorship. Facts About Conspiracy The facts about the conspiracy came from Communist writings in New Zealand and overseas and they were irrefutable. He considered that an important national service would be given by informing the people of the position. , . “The communists mean to replace the ballot with the bullet everywhere,' continued the Minister. They_ have already done so in many countries. "New Zealand is not exempt from the plot. I have assembled ample evidence to substantiate this. Democracy in New Zealand and throughout the British Commonwealth of Nations is now at the crossroads. I say that it is being challenged by the spies and pimps of foreigners.” Mr. Semple said his book would devote an important amount of space to revealing from Communist sources the conspiratorial nature of communism at work in the trade union movement and it would disclcse a system oi espionage among workers which would undoubtedly be regarded as repugnant to all decent New Zealanders.