N.Z. COMMUNISTS

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1940, Page 8

N.Z. COMMUNISTS

A ROUND-UP Promised by Mr Semple (Her Press Association]. CHRISTCHURCH, March 20. “There is going to be a round-up and a proper show-down in this country before long,’’ declared th; Hon. R. Semple (Minister for Pub' 1 lie Works) when he trenchantly condemned the circulation of (om munistic literature on relief jobjj in his talk to the Burwood golf course workers yesterday. • “We have stood it tong enough. We are not going to stand it any longr.*’ The Minister expressed his deepest abhorrence of one particular circular inciting preparation for a civil war. When a speaker attempted to speak when the Minister was attacking the publication of propaganda, Mr Sernple said: “Stay where you are. I know this stuff is being distributed all over the country.” Several voices: Not on this job. “It is,” declared Mr Semple. ‘lt isn’t,” replied several men. “It's a lie. We know, because you are not here. Another: It’s a deliberate lie. “We know that stuff distributed has been of an anti-Governnjent and anti-B'ritish character,” added the Minister. “Isn’t that correct, Mr Bland?” Mi’ A. R. Blank answered: "It is absolutely true.”

“Every man h-.re gave 10s for the last Labour lighting fund,” said a man who appeared to be the spokesman. “You can’t call that antiGovernment.”

The Minister read the following extract from a circular issued py the Bolshevik , Party, which he described as the left wing of the Communist Party in New Zealand: —

“The correct line is th 2 Bolshevik I’ne. All our work to-day should be concentrated on how quick we can transform this war into a civil war--that is, to transform it from an unjust war to a just war. Workers, you should join the armed forces, grt in touch with your fellow worker?? in the forces, make use of every possible opportunity to popularise the slogan of transforming th e war into a civil war. Get the arms into your hands and use them against your own bosses in this country.” The men’s spokesman: It has never been on this job.

“Well, it has been all over the country,” replied Mr Semple. “What a crawling, cringing attitude. The-' do not join the Communist Party because we can get their names; but this is the crawling thing going on all over the country. This kind of literature is in the hands of the police, and I am going to tell you that there is go : ng to be a round-up and proper show-down in tms cowtry before long. We have stood it long enough. Wo are not going to stand it any longer.”

Loyalty of Teachers

OTAGO ALLEGATIONS. DUNEDIN, March 29. Despite reports and rumours to the contrary, a firm belief in the loyally of the teachers in its district was expressed this morning by the Otago Education Board. The subject came up for discussion when the chairman (Mr James Wallace) said that, in view of statemen!: which had appeared in the Press, h. had framed the following resolution: “As some apprehension had bee., caused by recent statements which have appeared to reflect on the loyalty ol teachers, the Board dcs ies to state that it has no doubt whatever about the loyalty of its teachers.” Mr C. E. Richards said that there were some teachers who had been disloyal. He admitted that he did not know of any specific ease himself, but representations had been made to him to that effect. Other members declared that no such cases had been brought to their notice, several stating that the fact that some teachers d-d not conform to general ideas did not necessarily mean they were disloyal.

Senior Inspector T. A. Morland said that, in the course of visiting schools for over 15 years, he had not come across any instances of dis.oyalty among teachers. The motion was carried, the chairman saying that loose statements had caused all this discussion.