SPEECH IN HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23113, 11 August 1938, Page 14

SPEECH IN HOUSE

ATTACK ON MRS. STONE MR. SEMPLE HAS NO REGRETS NO APOLOGIES TO MAKE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Wednesday Challenged bv Mrs. E. L. Stone, an organiser of tho National Part\, 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, tlio Hon. R. Scmple has replied pointing out that a member of Parliament has no right to waive his privilege. In a letter to Mrs. Stone, the Minister says that no member, of his own volition, can interfere with the rights given him by Parliament. That was a question for Parliament to settle. "You complain of my attacking a woman," adds Mr. Scmple. "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, soyere 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 fact 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 1 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 bo in jeopardy. "In your letter you speak of cowardice. 1 can conceive nothing moi;e lacking in courage and fair play than the statement attributed to you. Your statement was not only an insult to men in the Labour movement, but was aldo 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." PRIVILEGE QUESTION MRS. STONE'S REMARKS COURSE OPEN TO MINISTER CHARGE OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER! WELLINGTON. Wednesday It was stated by Mrs. Stone this afternoon that she had received Mr. Seniple's letter. She added that she could not see any difficulty in Mr. Semple waiving his Parliamentary privilege if he wished to do so. In any case there was nothing to prevent him from repeating the statements on tho public platform, as he said ho would when he so bravely stood to his guns in Parliament. "Mr. Semple has had ample opportunity to do this," continued Mrs. Stone. "I notice that he spoke at Ngaio on Monday night, but he was apparently not willing to repeat his words there. He is a very brave* Mr. Semple when he stands up in the House and protests his willingness to repeat his statements on every public platform in New Zealand, but he is a different Mr. Semple when he fails to do that, and finds another convenient privilege which prevents him from waiving his Parliamentary privilege."