A PACKED HALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32315, 17 September 1943, Page 5

A PACKED HALL

HON. R. SEMPLE AT NGATEA

INDEPENDENTS DEPLORED

ADDRESS THURSDAY NIGHT

The Ngatea Hall was packed on Thursday night when the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, spoke in support of Lt.-Colonei E. C. N. Robinson, Labour Party candidate for the Hauraki electorate, the speaker being given an attentive hearing. Mr C. W. Parfitt, chairman of the Hauraki Plains County Council presided and associated with him was Lt.-Col. Robinson, Messrs J. W. Neate and H. E. Hill.

The meeting opened with the singing of the National Anthem. Hon. Semple in opening his address said that the election was being held during a period of world titanic struggle. He regretted that an election was being held and said they took no blame for that.

The Allies were engaged in a fight against oppression of the worst kind and therefore the war was definitely the first job .before the country. Although the Allies had been “caught on the hop” at first, they were forging ahead to-day and ultimate victory was assured.

When the war was over the first job of the Allies was the prevent a recurrenc of this terrible period by forming an alliance between the British Commonwealth cf Nations, America, Russia and China. Such an alliance would bei strong enough to police the world to prevent any country ever becoming strong enough to cause such a world upheaval. Control Armament Firms

All the armament firms should be taken over by such an alliance and prevented from ever constructing implements of war. It would be the job of such an alliance to put into operation the Atlantic Charter. This charter preached the doctrine of live and let live which meant that every country would haye the right to live its own life as long as it let its neighbours alone.

“To-night I am going to speak to you about constructive things. I am not going to dip my fingers into the political garbage tin,” continued the speaker, urging that war must be outlawed if the white race was not to be wiped off the face of the earth. The present struggle had shattered the economic structure of every country in the world and it was impossible to get back to where ,we were before without a great effort. He urged the need for proper handling of affairs after the war, emphasising that their very existence depended upon the right steps being taken. Other civilisations had fallen because of the greed of mankind and ours could go the same way if the right steps were not taken. 'Prophesying that the present ■war would end suddenly because it was too stupendous to malinger, the speaker, referred to the task which the Government had to face in rehabilitation of servicemen and servicewomen. It w as the period between the end of the war and the time when all were rehabilitated that was the dangerous period. It was then that the financial structure of the nation would be in danger. If was not a task for the politician alone but the people would have to co-operate to the full in this tremendous task. Plans For The Future

“I have an interest in the election — of course I have —I don’t want to see you go back to the hard times which existed before 1935,” stated the speaker, adding that his Government was already preparing- for the days which lay ahead, specialists being engaged at this very moment in drawing up plans' for the fullest development of the natural wealth of the Dominion.

River erosion was one of the tasks which they were preparing for. Thousands of tons of soil were being washed out to sea each year. . The rivers had got out of control and were causing tremendous damage and steps would have to be taken to remedy same. It was not proposed to “tinker” with the job through small river boards patching here and patching there. The most up-to-date methods would be used to regain control of these rivers. The Labour Government had this problem already planned.

Hydro-electric development was another thing which the Government had •planned—already they had a 10-year ■ plan and were working on a 25-year plan. It was only by planning for the future that the country could be developed in the best interests of all. Too Many Parties Continuing the speaker deplored the multitude of parties which was at present contesting the e l ecti".n. claiming that similar condition* had ruled

in Germany before Hitler arose, in Italy before Mussolini and in France before her collapse and almost happened in Australia. Australia had, however, gone to the country and 400 had contested the election but John Curtin won the day, the public throwing the independents out. He urged the ’public of New Zealand to do the same as Australia and throw the independents out, claiming the fight was plainly between Labour- and National. To have Parliament divided by independents was tremendously dangerous. There should in a Parliament 'be merely a Government and an opposition.

Speaking of the,. Dominion’s war effort the Hon. Semple said New Zealand had played a worthy part in the struggle. Few bad known how close New Zealand had been to disaster.

Those in a position to know had real' ised that if Japan broke through Singapore they would attempt to come down to New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, and much had to be done to prepare for defence against such barbarians as the enemy was. The Government had been forced to take steps which had been very unacceptable to some people. Although the Japanese had secured, rubber, petrol, aluminium, food, etc., in, their conquest they lacked one vital item and that was steel. Eventually their supplies would' run out although they had got vast supplies from Australia and New Zealand prior to the war. The Japanese in their fight m New Guinea had been endeavouring to establish a base at Port Moresby to take the steel supplies from Newcastle. However, the “Aussies” had stopped them on the Owen Stanley mountains and then the Americans came in and the Japanese were stopped. ■Continuing, the speaker outlined the task which New Zealand had to undertake in feeding the American troops although thousands of the best men in production were away fighting overseas. He outlined defence work which had been done in New Zealand, giving details of camps, hospitals, storehouses, etc., built both in New Zealand and the islands.

All that had been done, and the ■Government had been compelled to do had been done for the first law of nature —self-preservation. (He paid a high tribute to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Frasei, saying that there was no man in New

Zealand who had 1 worked harder in. the war effort.

He deplored the action of some people who had complained because they could not get certain goods. He mentioned eggs, explaining that the reason for the shortage was because thousands of dozens of eggs had been, sent to the islands for the New Zealand and American troops suffering from' malaria. Referring to the lease-lend he said it was expected that it would just about balance at the end of the war. Even if the country did owe something to America after the war it would be better than having the Japanese in New Zealand.

The speaker gave details of equipment manufactured in New Zealand for the Allies —boots for the Americans, cartridges for England, equipment for Russia. The production of the country was a splendid effort and production in the mines was the highest itjiad ever been. The steps taken by the Government with the coal mines had been merely to ensure peace and production in the mines in time of emergency and they had succeeded.

, No matter what the verdict was on September 25 the Labour Government could say that they had tried and done their best during their term of office.

A vote of thanks to the speaker and a vote of confidence in the Labour Party and Lt.-Col. Robinson, was moved by Mr H. E. Hill, seconded by Mr J. W. Neate and carried.

Three cheers for the boys serving in the forces and the singing of the New Zealand National Anthem brought the meeting to a close. A vote of thanks to the chair was carried by acclamation.

Torch, 'Colostrip, Century, Sir General, Te Hinemoa, Exeter, Skydonna, Atatu, Great Draw, Mihinui, Starvaal, Fox Hunting, Foxwyn, Lady Dink, Mr Rosa, Dies Faustus, Sir Simon, Radio Call, Grey Salute, Brief, Varuna, Gayjax, Theology, Grand Fight, Nordic Song/,Heroic Star, Night Mist, Beryl ■Fox, Yorkish, St. L'eon, Sousa, Karo-tangk.Hum-a-Song", On Time, Our Joy Lord Luck, The Crow, Garnwath, Uganda, Linbury, Chevalita, Retort.