OUTBURSTS BY MR SEMPLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20668, 5 March 1937, Page 8

OUTBURSTS BY MR SEMPLE

“TYPICAL OF A FASCIST DEMAGOGUE” DANGER TO THE UNITY OF LABOUR By Telegraph —Pres? Aasoclntinn AUCKLAND, March 4. “These frequent outbursts of the Hon. R. Semple we consider to be a dangei to the unity of Labour’s forces, and are typical of a Fascist demagogue,” states a strongly worded resolution earned by the Auckland Builders, General and other Labourers’ Union, at a meeting held last evening. “This Union," the resolution states, “views with concern the utterances of the Hon. R. Semple in dictating to workers in the Public Works camps, the classes of literature that they shall read and discuss in their social halls, and restricting particularly such matter that is of an advanced radical nature. We consider such an attitude to be an attack on the democratic rights of freedom of speech and assembly one of the basic principles of Labour. Further, Mr Semple does not appear to be consistent, as he claims for himself the right to use whatever language he chooses in expressing freely his own opinions, while at the same time denying that right to the rank and file of the workers who are the real Labour movement in this country. “These frequent outbursts we consider, to be a danger to the unity of Labour’s forces, and are typical ot a Fascist demagogue. We call upon the Labour movement and the Government to exercise disciplinary measures against any of its members, who, by such statements, are bringing discredit and disunity to Labour’s Tanks.”