LABOUR’S ANATHEMA

Evening Star, Issue 22233, 10 January 1936, Page 12

LABOUR’S ANATHEMA

“OBSTRUCTIVE” BOARDS MR SEMPLE A6AIN [Pee United Peess Association.] CHRISTCHURCH.' January 9. Remarks illustrating the attitude of the Labour Cabinet to the boards associated with certain departments were made by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) during his address to the men at the Ashley River camp to-day. Mr Semple referred more especially to his attitude as Minister of Transport towards the Transport Board. In a later conversation with a reporter h© gave _ his Remarks a more general application, inferring that at present no particular board was singled out for criticism._ When he had taken office as Minister of Transport,.said Mr Semple in his address, he had found, in common with other Ministers, that the powers of the department had been delegated to a board. “ I have, given notice to these gentlemen that they can obstruct no longer,” he said, “ and that instead of big salaries wo will present them with running shoes.” His subsequent statement was that certain of the boards—the Highways Board, for example—were probably capable of reorganisation, and so were likely to remain. Others, which might obstruct the Government in its efforts to rehabilitate the- country, would have their salaries discontinued and would be given “ running shoes.”