"Cruel and Unwarranted”

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 182, 4 August 1938, Page 7

"Cruel and Unwarranted”

Women Object to Mi* Attack iff! • i/CUVjpiv o nunvn A FROPHBT AND H 36 PROPHECY Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Protesting against the remarks concerning Mrs. E. L. Stone, of Wellington, made by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) in a broadcast speech from the House of Representatives on July 28, a meeting of the Wellington South women’s branch of tho New Zealand National Party held at Newtown to-day considered that “the attack on Mrs. Stone was cruel and unwarranted.” The meeting was called to hear an addross by Mrs. W. A. Bodkin, wife of the member for Central Otago, and the following motion proposed by Mrs. L. Hall, secretary of the branch, was carried: “That this meeting of women electors of Wellington South places on record its emphatic protest against Hon. R. Semple for his cruel and unwarranted attack over the air on a Wellington lady whom we all know and respect.” Speaking in support of the motion, Mrs. Bodkin said Mrs. Stone held certain views, but while she (Mrs. Bedkin) did not agree with all of them she maintained that everybody had tho right of free speech in a democratic country such as New Zealand. Mrs. Stone had the right to express her views.

“When we stand up on the platform to make a speech we expect to be criticised,” said Mrs. Bodkin. “We don’t object to criticism and we are perfectly able to look after ourselves. Wo are not trying to keep behind any privileged position because of our sex. What wo do object to, however, is anybody from a privileged position such as the floor of the House making such extraordinary statements as were made by Mr. Semple, and in fairness to our friends in tho Labour Party there are many of them who objected to these remarks too. As long as people do not transgress the laws of libel they have a perfect right to express their views. Mr. Semple once said it was going to be a severe and dirty fight, and when anyone assumes the mantle of a prophet it is only reasonable to suppose that he will do his utmost to make his prophecy come tTue. I think we all agree that Mr. Semple has done very well,” Mrs. Bodkin added.