MR SEMPLE’S REPLY

Southland Times, Issue 22993, 12 September 1936, Page 6

MR SEMPLE’S REPLY

Auckland Union’s

Criticism

“WILL NOT BE BLUFFED”

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, September 11.

“I am not going to be side-stepped, bluffed or bludgeoned by any group ol people in this country,” said the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) in discussing to-day the views expressed by the Auckland Carpenters' and Joiners’ Union on his handling of the Public Works dispute at Motueka some weeks ago. “I am in a position of trust for the people of New Zealand, and I have every right to demand service in return for the expenditure of public money.” Mr Semple said that he had been accused by the Auckland union of victimizing trades union officials. He had done nothing of the kind. The improvements carried out on Public Works and the conditions embodied in Public Works agreements were proof positive of his desire to assist the workers and to give them the best of opportunities to earn a decent living wage. In return he asked for loyalty and co-opera-tion from the men whom the Government had helped. “I dismissed no union official at Motueka,” Mr Semple continued. “A man who was once a branch secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union at Motueka sacked himself. It is not my intention to give his name and, out of mercy, I shall withhold the details. The man was not dismissed because of his trade union principles or his political views. He was dismissed for good and substantial reasons which are known to his union. I do not care how much the men on Public Works criticize the Government so long as they do the work for which they are engaged. They nave been given a five-day week and they have all day Saturday to discuss trade union principles or any other subject they like. To suggest that I have victimized the men because of their trade union principles is an infamous falsehood. This campaign of hate and slander against myself in particular has been instituted by members of the Communist Party who are, in my opinion. would-be wreckers of the nation and the enemies of mankind. I would have had nothing further to say on the matter if it had not been for the censure reported in the newspapers, and all I intend to say is that I propose to go ahead with my job and see to it that those under me go ahead with theirs, irrespective of all comment by Communists and others of their type.”' —-