Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, MARCH 16th., 1937. MR. SEMPLE AGAIN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 March 1937, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, MARCH 16th., 1937. MR. SEMPLE AGAIN.

IF there is one member of the * Labour Ministry in New Zealand who should, more than any of his colleagues, be grateful to the Press of this country, he is Air. R. Semple. Obviously a lover of the limelight, the Minister of Public Works and Transport has, since taking office, received an amount, of publicity which, were it accorded to, say, a member of the theatrical profession, would be sufficient to ensure his becoming a top-liner on any bill. There is more than a touch of the theatrical in Mr. Semple’s methods. The importance of the portfolios ho holds, of course, makes his official announcements of news value, but the manner in which these announcements are made adds to their value, from the point of view of the'daily Press. Both parties should, therefore, feel satisfied; Iho Minister receives good publicity, and the newspapers are provided with colourful “copy.”?

Tn the circumstances, forgiveness may be forthcoming for those who

arc inclined to believe that, when

the recent condemnation of the Press was made, the Semple tongue was in the Semple cheek. If New Zealand Press reports really have the power to upset Mr. Semple, it is beyond normal minds, to imagine his condition, were he to be at the mercy of the United States journalists. Apoplexy would probably cause an early vacancy in the Cabinet. Some of the terms with which the Ministerial statements are embroidered can scarcely ‘be described as appropriate to the dignity of the office he has been called upon to fill. Not, of course, that Mr. Semple admits his language to be unworthy; he . claims to be the best judge of what language he should use as. a Minister of the Crown. If he is correct, the remainder of the Cabinet members must be sadly out of step, for they fail woefully to measure up to the standard of oratory he sets. The public speeches of the Prime Minister, for instance, are lamb-like, when compared with the lion-like roarings of his colleague. Yet he would be an optimist who would, say that Mr. Savage is not the more-popular of the pair.,. Nevertheless, credit must be given to Mr. Semple for the good work he has done, and is doing, despite his unique methods. The campaign upon which he embarked, aimed at increasing the safety factor on the roads of the Dominion, was overdue, and fair-minded motorists will be the first to admit it. There are still too many avoidable accidents, costly to life and limb, but the Minister is entitled to claim that his activities have brought about an improvement, and it is hoped that this will continue. At the same time, he must not overlook the fact that all drivers cannot be classed as “road-hogs,” and the majority should not be made to suffer by too much restrictive legislation, through the sins of the comparatively few. Mr. Semple will also earn the commendation of the fair-minded, for his efforts to prevent the excessive consumption of liquor in camps under the control of the Public Works Department. He does not say that the men shall be prohibitionists, and he will receive wide support for his attitude that, in constructional camps, where women and sober men live, there must be no disturbance through excessive drinking. The latest pronouncement by Mr. Semple, in typical language, concerns the reported grievance of the men employed on new Public Works in Southland, who are finding difficulty in earning wages equal to sustenance rates, owing to the abnormally wet weather experienced recently. Tjhe Minister accuses the men of failing to take advantage of the avenues provided for the rectification of grievances. If this is the case, the Minister is entitled to support, and his views on that subject could be taken to heart, with profit, by the employees in some other industries in the Dominion. Not even Mr. Semple can regulate the weather, but there is some justice in his contention that he should be given an opportunity to compensate those who suffer from the vagaries of the climate, before other means are adopted of ventilating the grievance.