“WILL PLAY THE GAME”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13094, 16 February 1937, Page 4

“WILL PLAY THE GAME”

MR. SEMPLE ON LABOR CABINET “CANNOT AFFORD TO MAKE BLUNDERS.” “WE ARE GOING ALL THE WAY” (Press Association) INVERCARGILL. Feb. 15. The Minister of Public "Works (Mr. .Semple) and the Minister of Mines (Mr. Webb) wen* the guests of honor at a social to-night arranged by supporters of the Labor party. There was an attendance of about 300. In replying to the toast of his health, Ur. Semple said - members of the Governnntnt were fully conscious of the trust that had been placed in them. They,could not afford to make blunders,, because they could not afford to lose any of the confidence of the country. “IV* have to be careful, but we have made progress,” said Mr. Semple. “We have gone part of the way and wc are going all the way. Our aim of economic stability is not vision, -tod it will be realised. “In a little over a year tlic Labor Government,” he said, “has jpassed more legislation—some of it- revolutionary—than Mr. Seddon did in sixteen years.

“You were told that we would run this country to red ruin and that w« Mould take ycur savings and destroy the sanctity of the home’,’ the Minister said, “but we have iiicrcased the wages bill of this country by £T2.000.000 a year and the people are' beginning to live again. Even business men are realising that this is for the benefit of everyone. “The British system of Government might have its weaknesses,” said Mr Semple, “but- it would have to *be protected and upheld. It was the only proper method of Government. There was never a man big enough to control the destinies of a country successfully. “All we ask is co-operation and a fair chance,” he added. “Tin's Labor Cabinet is tied to nobody and it is going to play th? game.”