MINISTERS’ SONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 30, 14 November 1936, Page 6

MINISTERS’ SONS

QUESTION OF APPOINTMENTS. CONDEMNATION OF CRITICS. 0 STATEMENT BY AIR SEMPLE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Full responsibility for the appointment of Air A. E. Armstrong, son of the Minister for Labour, to a. position on tffe railway construction works at Parnassus was accepted this morniing by the Alinister for Public Works (the lion. R. benrple), who described the criticism of the appointment of Alinisters’ sons to positions in the Public Service as exhibition of political venom. “If our political opponents have no better weapons than these with which to Hog us,’’ said Air Semple, “I advise them to take a rest, as the weapons will get them nowhere.” The Minister said he took full responsibility for the selection of Air A. EL Armstrong for a job in the Public Works Department, and the Hon. H. T. Armstrong knew nothing about the appointment of his son until at least a fortnight afterwards. “1 asked Air F. Langbein * (District Public Works Engineer), to give him a job, not as foreman, but as an ordinary navvy,” Air Semple added. “Since bis selection, I. understand, lie has been chosen by his workmates as head of the gang. 1 take tho responsibility and apologise to no one for giving the boy a job as an ordinary navvy, and the fact that ha has already been selected as head of his gang justifies my action. This is an exhibition of political spleen and vindictiveness of the worst kind. It is an attempt to create tho impression that favouritism is being shown when the son of a Alinister of the Crown is appointed to a job as an ordinary navvy. I had to put up with the same kind of stuff when my own boy was appointed to a position as traffic inspector on his merits. I knew that this sort of stuff would come from certain individuals.” AYlien my boy approached me and asked would I object to him putting in an application, and emphasised that if it would embarass me he would not do so, I told him that I would not prevent him climbing to any position he was lit to fill, but that lie would have to get. there on his own merits.” Air Sernple said that his son was eventually appointed as traffic inspector and had since made good.. He had had about 70 cases already in the Dunedin district, where he was stationed, and had obtained a conviction in every case. “It seems some people are trying to build a barrier against Alinisters’ sons or daughters getting oil in the battle of life, but I am satisfied that the public have minds above that paltry, petty, selfish attitude,” Air Semple concluded.