“FOUL LIES” DENIED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19267, 8 March 1937, Page 12

“FOUL LIES” DENIED

MR. SEMPLE INDIGNANT HOTEL PURCHASE STORY LIQUOR CONTROL EFFORTS (f’«r Promt Association.) WELLINGTON, last night, The steps he had taken to prevent the consumption of liquor in public works camps were outlined by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. It. Semple, yesterday. Mr. Semple said that a statement had been broadcast that he, as Minister lor . nblic Works, before starting the Turakina deviation, had purchased the hotel at Fordell and that, he had put Jus daughter and her husband in the iiotel as "dummies,”, so that he (Mr. Semple) would receive, the benefits of the earnings of the men. That statement had been broadcast throughout the Dominion and it had come back to him.

“The facts are,” said Mr, Semple, “1 did not know there was an hotel at Fordell till I went to meet the men employed on the job there a few weeks ago. L never in my life owned any interest in an hotel in New Zealand or in any other country I have been in and 1 never will. This statement has been made at a time when Tam doing my best to keep liquor out of the public works camps ot the country, and, if 1 had my way, 1 would close every hotel in dose proximity to public works.” Mr. Semple said that the following notice was displayed in all public works camps:—

‘‘Any men found indulging in the following practices are liable to summary dismissal:

“(1) Drinking to excess in any camp or on any work under control of the department.

“(2) Behaving in a disorderly manner on the works.

“(3) Absenting themselves from work without leave or when on works being in an unfit state to do a fair day’s work through the effects of intemperance. ”(4) Brawling in camp.”

The Minister said that lie took the opportunity to make the statement to combat foul lies that had been whispered about him to discredit him, although he was doing Oil that he could to prevent tile entry of liquor into public works camps and had done more than any Minister had dared to do before.