Mr Semple Replies To Mrs Stone

Northern Advocate, 10 August 1938, Page 5

Mr Semple Replies To Mrs Stone

t Special to “Northern Advocated! WELLINGTON, This Day.

Challenged by Mrs E. L. Stone, an organiser of the National Party, to waive his Parliamentary privilege, and allow her to cite him in an action for libel arising out of his recent criticism of statements attributed to her, the Hon. R. Semple has replied, pointing out that a member of Parliament has no right to waive his privilege. In a letter to Mrs Stone, the Minister said that no member, of his own volition, can interfere with the right given him by Pai’liament. That is a question for Parliament to settle. “You complain of my attacking a woman,” adds Mr Semple. “Surely when you made such a statement you were aware that while no one would wish to restrict the political liberty of women, anyone making a statement of a nature in which reflections were cast on the moral character of those politically opposed to her, must expect, and richly deserve, severe censure.

“My delay in answering your letter (which was received at my office the day following its publication in the press), was primarily due to the tact that I have been out of town, and. secondly, I wished to make doubly sure that you used the words complained of,” said the Minister. “In view of the information that I have received from some of those who have listened to you, I am still convinced that you did make this statement, and created in the minds of your audience an impression that if Labour continued in office the marriage tie would be in danger, and the morals of the nation would be in jeopardy. “In your letter you speak of cowardice. I can conceive nothing more lacking in courage and fair play than the statement attributed to you. Your statement was not an insult to men in the Labour movement, but also a definite reflection on tens of thousands of women throughout this country who support the movement. It was in their defence that I was prompted to make the attack complained of by you. I have no apologies to make or regret to express.”