Mr Semple Opens a Bridge

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1938, Page 6

Mr Semple Opens a Bridge

THE general atmosphere which surrounds the opening of bridges, laying of foundation-stones and similar public ceremonies, is one of mutual congratulation and back-slapping. In the case of foundation-stones, a silver trowel is formally presented to the officiating Minister, and, after a perfunctory dab at the mortar, he declares the stone “well and truly laid.’' In the ease of bridges, a silk ribbon is stretched across the roadway, and this is cut with a pair of scissors, except on those rare occasions, when, as in the case of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, someone arrives with a sword in time to forestall the person with the scissors.

* Speeches, of course, are the order of the day, but it is very seldom that anyone disturbs the harmony of the occasion Avith any remarks of a controversial character. Such urbane conventions, hoAvever, do not trouble a gentleman of Mr. Semple’s independent spirit. When he has sometning to say he proceeds to say it, regardless of the circumstances. Thus the ceremony of opening a ueAV bridge across the Hoddei River in Marlborough last Saturday was given an unexpected touch of drama when Mr. Semple, officiating in his capacity of Minister of Public Works, took the opportunity of retaliating in his own inimitable style for Avliat he considered Avas a personal attack on him by one of the county councillors present.

It is obvious that the remarks of the gentleman in question, Mr L. L. T. Bush, were seriously misconstrued by Mr. Semple. Mr. Bush obviously meant, Avlien commenting on the suggestion that Mr. Semple be asked to open the bridge, that it Avould be putting the Minister to miAvarranted trouble. Mr. Semple, ever, took the remark as a personal insult and, as seems to be usual Avith him in such cases, he Avas vory soon “carried aAvay by the exuberance of his own A r erbosity.” The affair ended on a note of anti-climax, for the Minister shook hands Avith the man avlio, a feAV minutes earlier, he had been denouncing in the most A’itriolic terms. While this tirade lasted, the gathering had been treated to some unexpected entertainment, but it is a pity that Mr. Semple, even though labouring under a genuine misapprehension, did not measure his Avords a little more carefully.