MR. SEMPLE NOT LOSING SLEEP OVER SEAMEN’S CRITICISM

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 February 1947, Page 4

MR. SEMPLE NOT LOSING SLEEP OVER SEAMEN’S CRITICISM

(P.A.) Wellington, Feb. 26. The Minister of Works (Mr. Semple) was asked to-day whether he had any comment to make with regard to the resolution alleged to have been passed by the Seamen’s Union in Melbourne, condemning him for having expressed an opinion in connection with the visit to New Zealand of Mr. E. V. Elliott. Federal secretary of the Australian Seamen’s Union, following which seven unions declared the Wanganella “black.” Mr. Semple said in reference to this resolution that he had little comment to make other than that it would cause him no loss of sleep.

“I will leave the people of New Zealand, whom I have endeavoured to serve for over 40 years, to judge whether I am a ‘reactionary’ or otherwise. I am their servant, and nor rhe tool of a clique in Australia or elsewhere. It is characteristic of this type of individual to brand as a ‘reactionary’ or ‘scab’ anyone who dares to differ with them. No man with an opinion of his own would be permitted to speak if this type of individual had control of the destinies of a country,” he said. Melbourne, Feb. 25. The Seamen’s Union passed a motion to-day criticising the utterances of the New Zealand Minister of Works (Mr Semple) on the union’s secretary (Mr- E. V. Elliott), in connection with the Wanganella dispute. The resolution said: “Mr. Semple uses the Red bogey to detract from the real issue which took Mr. Elliott to New Zealand. Mr. Semple's antiworking class statements would expose him for what he really was, a reactionary of the first order ' It was stated that Mr. Elliott was obliged to vo to New Zealand because the dispute with the underwriters over the payment of salvage to the crew was not settled in Australia.