INCIDENT AT CEREMONY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 231, 29 August 1938, Page 6

INCIDENT AT CEREMONY

MINISTER AND COUNCILLOR. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Aug. 29. Events at the opening of the new Hodder "River bridge, in the Awatere district, by the Minister of Publia Works (Hon. R. Semple), on Saturday, took a surprising turn when the Minister made a strong attack on a member of the Awatere County Council who was standing alongside him, alleging that he had been insulted. The object of Mr Semple’s charge was Mr L. L. T. Bush, who, incidentally, is the chairman of the National Party executive for this electorate.

At the July meeting of the County Council," when it had been suggested that Mr Semple be invited to open the bridge, Mr Bush had remarked: “Would you ask the county to pay his expenses to come over here and open the bridge.” Waving a newspaper clipping aloft, Mr Semple, averring lie had been a fighter all his life and never took an insult lying down, declared be had never scrounged on any county council, or anybody else for expenses. “I want to tell Mr Bush to his teeth that I rekent this bitter, vindictive, and common insult,” said the Minister. Denying any political bias in his own dealings, Mr Semple added: “I want to tell you, Mr Bush, that your remarks were a commoii, cheap, and vulgar insult. I want nothing from you, or from the council. I resent your political insult and venom.” Mr Bush : Mr Semple, allow me — Mr Semple: I don t want to hear anything from you. At fliis juncture tlie county chairman intervened to explain that Mr Bush’s remark had been intended jocularly.

Mr Busli also assured the Minister that this was so, and offered to apologise and shake hands, admitting his remark was open to a wrong construction if it was removed from its context.

Remarking that lie would take no insults, and was not afraid to “put in the boot,” the Minister accepted the proffered hand and the incident closed amid applause.