MINISTERS’ SONS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21941, 16 November 1936, Page 16

MINISTERS’ SONS

MR SEMPLE EXPLAINS APPOINTMENTS

DENIES ALLEGATIONS OF FAVOURITISM

“EXHIBITION OF POLITICAL VINDICTIVENESS”

"1 want you to emphasise that I tppointed Tommy Armstrong myself, and that I make no' apology for it. His father knew nothing about the appointment till I told him of it a fortnight later.” The Minister for Public Works, the Hon. H. Semple, made this explanation of the appointment of Mr A. E. Armstrong (son of the Minister for Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) to a position under the Public Works Department, in an interview on Saturday. Mr Semple took the opportunity to explain also the circumstances of the appointment of his own son as a traffic inspector, about which a question was asked in the House or Representatives. ‘‘Young Tom Armstrong has been i mentioned as having been favoured ; because he was a Minister’s son,” Mr j Semple said. “I take the responsi- j bility, and apologise to no one, for giving the boy a job. not as a foreman, but as an ordinary navvy. The j fact that he has already been selected j by his work mates as head of a t gang justifies my giving him the j chance. j “It is an exhibition of political .spleen and vindictiveness of the worst kind, to attempt to create the impression that favouritism has been shown when a Minister of the Crown’s son is appointed to a position as an ordinary navvy,” he said. “I had to put up with the same kind of thing when my own boy was appointed a traffic inspector on his own merits. I knew that this sort of thing would come from individuals whose minds are not above it. “Political Venom” “I know both the Public Service Commissioners. Mr Boyes, who was appointed recently, was head of the Pensions Department, and no fairer man ever held down a position. Mr Mark is a fearless, straightforward and conscientious public servant. If any Minister of the Crown attempted to use them I am satisfied that he would fail miserably. “I am satisfied that Mr H. T. Armstrong would be the last to infringe any law or use any influence whatever for the benefit of his own children,” Mr Semple added. “The whole business is nothing more nor less than an exhibition of political venom, and I congratulate the Public Service officers on the stand they have taken. If our political opponents have no better weapons than these to flog us with 1 advise them to take a rest, for it will get them nowhere.” The Minister explained further that Mr Armstrong’s son had not been appointed a foreman, or even a ganger; he had merely been chosen by his j ■work mates as a leader to negotiate for them, in keeping with the Public Works agreement. He received no more pay than the others, and did a full share of work. [ t Mr Semple« Son | “The matter of my own boy’s ap- ' pointment was raised in the House,” | he continued. “I am glad to say that j many members of the Opposition have j come to me and to’d me that they are | sorry it was raised, and that it was j a mean thing to do. I could not tell Mr Holland in the House what I [ 1 bought of him—the rules of the House ! forbade—but I told him in the corridors as man to man.” Mr Semple said that his son had asked him if he objected to his applying for the position, saying that if it would embarrass his father he would not do so. “I told him that I aid not object, but that he had to get there on his own merits. At that moment I called in my secretary, Mr Hutchings, and Mr Meachen, the member for Wairau, and asked them to hear what I was going to say to Mr Knapp, the secretary of the Highways Board. I told the secretary of the board that my boy had decided to apply for the position of traffic inspector. I told him to forget that the applicant was my son and to give him no consideration or quarter whatever. I wanted him to get any position on his merits, as I did myself. The boy was eventually appointed as an inspector and has since made good. He has had 70 cases and 70 convictions already in Dunedin, where he is stationed, and is regarded as one of the most promising inspectors in the service.

“It seems to me that some people would out a barrier against public men’s sons or daughters getting on in life,” said the Minister. “I am satisfied that the public of this country have minds above that paltry, petty, selfish attitude.”