MR. SEMPLE'S SPEECH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 50, 27 August 1938, Page 8

MR. SEMPLE'S SPEECH

(To the Editors

Sir,— Heferring to the above letter in Thursday's "Evening Post," I would like to suggest to "A Rolling Stone" that Mrs. Stone also be requested to repeat, on a public platform, the exact words she used previously at the sanatorium about the Government which Mr. Semple represents. —I am, etc., A. W. LANGDON. [The cases are not parallel. The Minister's statement was broadcast throughout New Zealand. Mrs. Stone's was not and she had no opportunity of making a similar broadcast reply. The Minister's statement was made in Parliament and covered by Parliamentary privilege, which prevented Mrs. Stone from taking legal action. Mrs. Stone's statement was in no wayprotected by such privilege and, if it were actionable, action could be taken ; without the statement being repeated. \ The Minister was asked to waive his privilege and replied: "Your legal adviser must know that no member of Parliament has a right to waive his privileges." Mrs. Stone replied that a lawyer advised her there was nothing to prevent Mr. Semple agreeing to waive his Parliamentary privilege, or, if he found difficulty about that, he could repeat the words complained of upon a public platform. The Minister also stated in Parliament: "That statement will be made by me on every public platform in this Dominion." — Ed.]