MR. SEMPLE CRITICISED

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1940, Page 4

MR. SEMPLE CRITICISED

“GIVE UP MELODRAMA.” .[per press association.] BLENHEIM, December 3. “He should curb his tongue and give up melodrama and playing on psychology. That is my advice to the Minister,” said Mr. L. L. T. Bush, chairman of the Awatere County Council, when objecting at yesterday’s meeting of the council, to the tone and attitude of the Minister of Public Works (Mr. Semple) when he recently heard a deputation of Awatere settlers on the Awatere water scheme. Mr. Bush said he was frankly surprised at the attitude of both the Minister and the ratepayers concerned. Quite apart from any political significance he would say definitely that one did expect civil references from a Minister of the Crown to a local body. The mode of expression used by the Minister was unjustifiable and unfair, and to his mind merited the contempt it had had. Mr. Semple, Mr. Bush said, had received a report from his department which referred very favourably to the quality of the work done on the Awatere water scheme and he knew very well the technical and financial difficulties that had pursued the scheme since its inception. “I consider the Minister’s remarks a straight out attack on the council,” said Mr. Bush. “I admire Mr. Semple as a driving force and as Minister for Public Works, but he should curb his tongue and give up melodrama and playing on psychology. I regret very much that the Minister should come out and, speak the unparliamentary language he did when he was well aware of the quite favourable Public Works Department report.”