COMING ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 241, 8 July 1938, Page 12

COMING ELECTION

“Hard And Dirty Fight”

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

“The foulest, document ever issued against a public man in tbe history 01 Now Zealand,”, was the description applied by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. U. Semple, to a pamphlet which he said had been distributed in the electorate of the Minister ot binanee, Hou, W. Nash, while speaking tn the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives hist night. The Minister linked that document with other attacks on the Government, and declared that things of that kind were tbe basis for his statement that the coming election was going to be a hard and dj.rty fight. . “Reference- has been mflde during this debate to my statement that tbe coming election campaign will be the dirtiest contest in the political history of New Zealand,” Mr. Semple said. "That is right. I did say that, and I had ample justification for saying it. I have a bundle of documents issued from the National Party head office. One of these suggests that in Britain the Labour Party and the Communist Party have joined, and that in New Zealand also there is an affiliation between the two. That is not true. There has never been an association between the two, never has been, and never will be.”

Tbe Minister produced another document which he said be did not ascribe to the National Party. It bad been distributed in tbe Hutt electorate in tbe middle of the night, he said, and charged the Minister of Finance with having associated with “convicts, criminals, usurers, blasphemers, and people who would not take tbe oath on tbe Bible.” It als o alleged that the Minister was in sympathy with "Bolshevists, anarchists, and persons who had destroyed every religious thing they could get their hands on.” and made libellous references to a photograph of Mr. Nash recently published in the Press.

“I have been informeel.” Mr. Semple continued, "that there are bundles of these things ready to be distributed all over New Zealand a few days before the general election. That is the foulest document ever issued against a public man in the history of this country—against a man who can look the world in the face. I am glad to be associated with the Minister of Finance, and I know that this foul indictment was born of fear of bis courage and ability.”

Mr. Semple went on to refer to attacks which be said had.been made on him by Mr. 11. C. Jenkins, editor of the "■Wanganui Chronicle.” When challenged to meet him on the public platform in Wanganui, however. Mr. Jenkins bad come to him 10 minutes before the meeting was to take place and bad explained that bis directors would not allow him to take the platform. M r . Jenkins had run away like a whipped cur. Mr. W. J. Polson (Opposition, Stratford) : His job depended on it. “If I had been in his position, and had been forbidden toy a board of directors to take the platform.” Mr. Semple asked, “how long do you think I would have kept my job? That is the kind of thing that, is going on all overthis country. Our fight should lx? based on clear political issues, and not on methods of this kind that belong to the dark and ignorant past.” EDUCATION REFORM Approval Of Principles In Bill A report which approved of tbe principles of the Bill, but beyond that was non-committal, was presented to the House of Representatives yesterday by tbe Recess Education Committee which bearil evidence during the recent recess on the Education Amendment Bill. Tbe Bill was introduced just before the end of last session, but. consideration of it was deferred so that it could be circulated to interested organisations. Reporting to the House, the chairman of the Recess Committee, the Rev. C. L. Carr (Government. Timaru), said that the committee bad heard extensive evidence on the Bill, and after a careful consideration of its provisions. approved of the principles embodied in it. Tbe committee referred the matter to the Government, and recommended that the Bill should be reintroduced this session “with such alterations, amendments, and modifications as were- suggested by the proceedings before the committee." The committee's report was tabled, together with a copy of the evidence submitted to the committee. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Could Play More Useful Part In Government

The view that the Legislative Council played a very useful part in the Government of the country, but by no means'as useful a part as it might if more use were made of its members, was expressed, by the Hon. T. Blomlworth (Auckland), during the Adtfress-in-Reply debates in the Council yester-

Mr. Bloodworth said he often wondered why some of the minor Bills were not introduced in tbe Council in the early mages of the session, when it would'have greater time to consider them.

"During the reeess,” Mr. Bloodworth said, "a very important matter was considered by a committee. Several other committees have been appointed and have none ihrough the country taking evidence on other matters, but in none of these cases has a member of this Council been included. I do not: think that is right. As long as there are two Chambers, then this Chamber is, in my opinion, entitled 'o be accorded some considerjitiou in matters of that kind. 1 tliink one, or perhaps two members the C-nim-il might have been included on the Social Security Comniiitee "