MR SEMPLE'S SILENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24619, 29 May 1941, Page 8

MR SEMPLE'S SILENCE

VISIT TO AUSTRALIA DESPAIR OF INTERVIEWERS (Air Mail) SYDNEY, May 24. Since Labour took over the Government in New Zealand, Australians have heard about the Minister of National Service, Mr R. Semple, more than any other member of the Ministry, apart from the late Mr Savage. Now thEi he is in Australia they hear praciically ncthing of him. For he made it plain on the clay of his arrival that he was on a secret mission and nothing would make him talk. So after newspapers had carried his photograph on the first day and given brief, empty interview:, with him, he has gone his way unmolested by pressmen. ■-" Australian Connections- . Had he sought it, he could have had a god "press." Australians like to read of feliow-ccuntrymen who have been successful in other 'countries. Moreover, he was in the New Zealand Labour movement 30 years ago with the new New South Wales Minister of National Services. Mr Heffron, End when thev met en the day of Mr Semple's arrival there was a background for a really good, intimate newspaper * story. Moreover."" Mr Semple is en uncle of another newiyappointed New South Wales Minister, Mr Hamilton Knight. But interviewers had to let good copy pass. When a public man says, "I'm gang to be as silent as the grave." then newspapermen sdve him uo. Asked hew long he wou!d be in Australia. Mr Semple said: "If I could net ell \ve ( wsnt' to-morrow I wovld h'i off horre ip ° A hers. But I don't think will get it by then." He would n.tt say wha„ he wanted. Nor would he discuss New Zenlsnd c'nscription. "I don't want anything I say about con'"'ntion to be ?".rt " v,, <> propaganda," he said. "It is for every Government to aecide for ltsc.f w i ■- 't<*er conscription i? c^-ir?' l -" 1 ■ " r ft think it's desirable in New Zealand and the people are 100 per cent, behind us." Long and Desperate Asked about social services under the New Sealed Labour Government. Mr Semple said: " I don't want to say anythin;: about those, ■■" 'either. People might start making comparisons. But you can take a, note "'pf this," he said. And he dictated: "New Zealand is 100 n<?r cent, behind the British Commonwealth, and we realise that everything that is sacred is in jeo'perdy. This is a war t; protect the liberties and rights of free neople. The struggle will be long and desperate. We will have, to suffer a lot more than we have'suffered yet. We have yet to make the maximum sacrifice. I am here to do a certain job of work which: concerns both the New Zealand and'the Australian Governments, the nature of which I cannct disclose." -;,.•?