COMMUNIST MOVE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1940, Page 5

COMMUNIST MOVE

PREDICTION BY MR SEMPLE.

(Per Press • Association—Copyright).

CHRISTCHURCH, March 20

“Th we is going to be a round-up and a proper show-down in' this country -befdreMong,’’ declared the Bout K. Semple (Minister, for Public Works) when he trenchantly ’ condemned the circulation of Communistic 1 literature on relief jobs in his talk to the Buiwood golf course workers yesterday. “We have' stood it long enough. Wo are not going to stand it any longer.” The Minister expressed his deepest abhorrence of one particular circular inciting preparation for a civil war.

When a worker attempted to speak when the .Minister was attacking the publication of Mr'Sempie said: “Stay where you are. I know’ this stuff is being distributed all over the country.”

Several voices: Not on this jott. “It is,” declared Mr Semple. “It 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 ha* been of an anti-Government and rnt:British character,” added the Minister. “Isn’t, that correct, M r Blank-' Mr A. R. Blank.answered: “It is absol-

utely true.” , “Every man here gat.evlps for ibo last Labour fighting fufid/L said a man who appeared to be the spokesman “You can’t call that anti-Government.” The Minister read the follow.ng extract from a circular issued ;Ty t'-e Bolshevik Party, which he descriicd as the left. wing of the Communist Partv in New Zealand:— ; “The correct line is the Bolshevik line. All our work to-day should be concentrated on how quick Vve ca i 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, get in touch with your fellow wykers, i n the forces, make use of eve/v possible opportunity to popularise vf.e slogan of transforming the w*r into a civil war. Get the arms into your hands and use them against jour own bosses in this country.’’ The men’s spokesman: r t has never been on this job.

“Well, it has been al] pve - the country.” replied Mr Semple. “What a crawling, cringing attitude. They do not join the :Communist' Pa-*ry 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 T am going to teh you that there is going, to he a round-up and proper show-down in this country before long. We have sVn-l it long enough. We are not giing to. stand it any longer.”.