Mr. Semple and the Canon

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 107, 9 May 1938, Page 7

Mr. Semple and the Canon

SPENT SATURDAY UNDER SAME ROOF BUT DID NOT SPEAK! Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Although by a strange coincidence both the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) and Canon A. E. Gowxing, of Bristol, spent Saturday night under the same room at the Chateau Tongariro, they did not meet personally or oarry further their public controversy concerning the crime and drunkenness of young New Zealanders. Mr. Semple, who arrived at Wellington on Friday from the South Island, left again on Saturday on a visit to Rotorua and South Auckland. Canon Gowring was already at the Chateau when the Minister arrived on Saturday evening, but although Mr. Semple was pointed out to him by a guest he made no move to introduce himself or take up the Minister’s challenge. Nor did the Minister seek the Canon 'a acquaintance, according to a Wellington business man who witnessed the episode. “The canon told me that as the Minister had insulted him by insinuating that he was a liar and a cur he would not talk to him unless he retracted the words and apologised,” he said. This morning the canon left the Chateau for Pipiriki, intending to make a boat passage down the Wanganui river before coming to Wellington to join the liner Arawa sailing for Bouth ampton on May 20. To-day the Minister left on a duck-shooting expedition prior to fulfilling political engagement t.

In a telephone interview at Pipiriki the Canon confirmed that he had known Mr. Semple was at the Chateau but that he had not spoken with him. He gave no reasons.