Disappointed and Snubbed

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 39, 16 February 1937, Page 7

Disappointed and Snubbed

Semple Takes Hamilton to Task LEFT HIM GROPING IN DARE.. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. 1 ‘ I am disappointed and I regard it as a snub,” said Hon. R. Semple this afternoon when he received a deputation from residents of the Awarua electorate and tho Member for Awarua was absent. “It is the first time that I have had an experience of this kind. When my itinerary was arranged I communicated with Hon. Adam Hamilton and Mr J. Hargest, and asked them to bring any matter affecting their electorates before “Their replies came very late, and now, when 1 arrive, thoy arc not in their district, though Mr Hargest wrote to say he could not accompany mo to Btowart Island. lam hero to do my best for the people irrespective of party, yet they leave local people to do the best they can. “I am making arrangements and residents of their electorates are interviewing me on matters with which I am not familiar, and it leaves me groping in the dark. It is fair neither to tho Department nor to the Ministor. Members should look after tho interests of their electorates first. “Mr Hamilton asked mo to devote a day to his electorate. I agreed to this and fixed a time to meet his wishes, and now he fails to meet me. I am not surprised at this when 1 hear that Mr Hamilton quite recently publicly made a statement that the Government represented that section of the people which believed in mob rule. “That was a definite insult to tens of thousands of law-abiding citizens who voted for the Government. If they were absent for any legitimate reason, one could understand it, but it is well known that they are attending a meeting of the executive of their party. Evidently Mr Hamilton prefers to disregard tho needs of his electorate rather than be associated with a Minister who represented what he terms ‘ the flotsam and jetsam of the nation.’ ”