MR. SEMPLE’S BLUNDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1946, Page 4

MR. SEMPLE’S BLUNDER

REMARKS ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMAN QUESTION RAISED IN HOUSE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 5. A full apology for remarks he had made about President Truman was made to-day by the Minister of Works (Mr. Semple), who said he had based his statements on an assumption that he had afterwards found to be wrong. The subject was raised in the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. R. G. Gerard (Oppn., Mid-Can-terbury), who asked if the Government were in accord with the opinion expressed by a responsible Minister when he charged the President of the United States with being “a tool of money gangsters.” The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) said Mr. Semple, in fairness to President Truman, was putting the matter right. Point of Order. When Mr. Gerard asked the question Mr. Fraser immediately raised a point of order and said it was a well-established principle that inside the House no words must be used bearing a reflection on the head of another State, whether. . . . Mr. F. W. Doidge (Oppn., Tauranga): The Minister said it. Mr. Fraser: Whether quoted or otherwise. Mr. Doidge: Will the Prime Minister say what he is going to do about the Minister? The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. S. G. Holland) said that what the Prime Minister had said was correct. Unparliamentary words used outside the House should not be repeated inside the House. The matter was unsatisfactory as it stood, and should be cleared up. He had not seen the report, but he understood one Minister had said something casting a reflection on the head of another State. The House should know if the Prime Minister condoned the statement, or whether the Prime Minister could make a statement removing any feeling of injury which might have been caused by the . Minister to American citizens in this country. Parliamentary Rule. Mr. Fraser said Mr. Holland had stated the position correctly. It did not matter whether the words were used in or outside the House if they in any way reflected on the head of another State. Members ■ had been “pulled up” for using words that miglit reflect on the head of a friendly State. The statement made by the Minister of Works had been based on an erroneous impression, and in fairness that matter would be put right in another place outside the House. He would be glad if the matter could! be left there “for the moment. “We have nothing but the greatest respect for President Truipan and his great , country,” said Mr. Fraser. Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Oppn., Hauraki): It’s up to the Minister. He gets away with too much. Mr. Holland said that in view of the statement by the Prime Minister it would be proper and fitting to ask Mr. Gerard to hold over his question for a few days. Mr. Speaker said he thought that Mr. Gerard might ask to have his question withdrawn, and to this course Mr, Gerard agreed.