Mr Semple’s Crusade Against Communism

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26775, 19 May 1948, Page 4

Mr Semple’s Crusade Against Communism

In his vigorous crusade against Communism in New Zealand the Minister of Works, Mr Semple, has, along with his own colourful denunciations, cited the works of Communists and their critics as evidence of the aims of the party. It was Mr Semple’s complaint to the Daily Times on his recent visit to Dunedin that, whereas his own opinions were reported, his authorities were neglected. At our invitation the Minister has supplied extracts from some of his source material, which are printed below.

Special Letter to New Zealand Comrades. (Communist- International, 1933; Reprinted in New Zealand Labour Monthly, March 1934.) “Communists must promptly seize on the slightest cases of dissatisfacton of the workers, must formulate their demands and organise the workers. To offset the policy of class collaboration of the reformists in the Arbitration Courts, the Communists must agitate for the strike as a powerful weapon of struggle, actually preparing the strikes and leading them. “The party must centre its agitation in the trade unions on the struggle against the strike-breaking of the Reformist leaders. It is essential for all employed Communists to be members of trades unions. From these comrades and from workers who sympathise with us we must form group;, of the revolutionary opposition in the trade unions. “ Communists must participate in all the actions of the reformist’s workers, even if they are led by reformist leaders, and put forward reformist slogans, striking to direct these actions against the employers and the Government." Communists and Political Freedom (Workers Weekly, October 6. 1934). “The Labour Party is a party that supports collaboration with the capitalists. It is a party which supports ‘democracy against dictationship’; that means, in effect, it supports bourgeois dictatorship disguised as democracy against the dictatorship of the working class. History shows that thcLabour Party will openly join enemies of the revolution and will have to be suppressed.” Policy of Penetration “ Where there is no situation present which permits of successful revolution, it must obtain the maximum influence possible over the proletariat to prepare it for the day when revolution dawns. To this end, it must penetrate and seek to control all working class organisations, the trade unions, the Labour Party, the co-operative movement, and so forth. . . .” Extract from the Mangakino Spark (Vol 1, No. 6, Published by the Mangakino Branch, New Zealand Communist Party). “ Finally the achievement of a Socialist New Zealand is possible without civil bloodshed, as it has been in the new democracies of Europe— Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc. The prerequisite for this is Com-munist-Socialist unity, the Labour Party purging of the quisling capitalists in its ranks and joint programmes arrived at in conference between a real Socialist Labour Party and the Communist Party. Recent European history has its lessons for New Zealand. Let’s not learn the hard way by splitting in the face of reactionary attacks made under the smoke-screen of anti-Communism. —(Lon Clapham.) ”

Extracts from “ The Secret Battalion ’’ (By Harold Laski). “ They (the Communists) must therefore destroy the very parties with which they seek alliance in order to command their resources for their own ends. To do this, they must declare that they are at one with them, loyal to their principles, ready to accept their rules, prepared to serve under their leaders. But since none of these declarations are true, they must also, at the same time, deny those principles, manoeuvre round the rules, and do all in their power both to discredit the leaders they agree to serve, and, if possible, secure their places when they are discredited. . . " Communists Attack Parliamentary System. (Extract from New Zealand Labour Monthly, March, 1934.) “ To teach the workers to have faith in the ballot box in the parliamentary system is but to repeat the errors of German social democracy which led to the fatal issue of Hitler dictatorship.” Extract from Freedom (February 26. 1947). "Mr Elliot (secretary Australian Seamen's Union, member Australian Communist Party) said that he had visited Europe but had not made a trip to Russia. He extolled the work of Communism in Europe. ‘ Look at the wonderful job Communism is doing in Europe where traitors to the woi'kers have been killed off,’ he said If the Japanese had over-run New Zealand and Australia these traitors to the workers would have collaborated with the Japs. To-day they are ostensibly on the side of the workers. The country would be better off it they were killed off.” Marx and The Communist Manifesto. “Let the governing classes tremble before the Communist Revolution. The proletariat has nothing to lose but its chains. It has a world to win. Proletarians of all countries unite!” Russia’s Iron Age (by W. H. Chamberlain. “ The Russian Revolutionaries regard their battle against religion finished—with all religions, Christian, Jewish, etc., stripped of power and appeal. and in a state of utter collapse.” Bulgaria; Prime Minister’s Threat “Grim warning given by Bulgarian Prime Minister,” Sofia (N.Z.P.A., January 14, 1948). The Bulgarian Prime Minister threatened nine members of the Socialist Opposition in Parliament with a lesson they would remember “ until they meet St. Peter.” They called the Budget insincere and unreal and said they would vote it The Prime Minister said; “ I have warned your allies from Petkov’s group a number of times. They did not listen, and their leader is under the ground. You must think it over whether you want to share the fate of your allies. If you are unwise and do not try to gain wisdom you will receive a lesson from the nation you will remember until you meet St. Peter.”