MINISTER HONOURED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19338, 31 May 1937, Page 14

MINISTER HONOURED

LABOUR PARTY FUNCTION PRESENTATIONS MADE TRIBUTE TO MEMBER After meeting deputations until about 10 p.m. on Saturday, the .Hon. R. Semple ami .Mrs. Scrapie, accompanied by Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.l'., attended a Labour Party function be iug held in the Selvyn Hall. There was :i very large attendance. As soon as the party went on to the platform the assembly stood up and sang very enthusiastically "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows."

m introducing the visitors, Mr. Coleman said that though many pre seni might not have met Mr. anil Airs. Semple personally, they felt that they know them well and lie was. pleased lo be able to extend to them a very .hearty welcome to (iisborno.

.Mr. Semple had suffered more tot iiis principles than any other man in Now Zealand, Mr. Coleman continued, lie was one of the men who had helped lo blaze the trail of * the Labour movement, and it was only iittiiig that he should lie given a position of great importance in the first Labour Government of New Zealand. lie had not only earned it by his work in the movement, but he possessed qualifications that lilted him for the position. His work as Minister of Public Works had gained for him the admiration (d everyone in Hie Dominion. Presentation to Mr. Semple

Mr. Coleman then presented to Mr Semple a handsome inlaid casket madiby a Gisborne resident.

"It is a scry line work of art,'' "Mr. Coleman said, "inlaid with f>r>2 separate pieces of wood. It. is accom minted with a card 'in recognition of your very valuable work to New Zealand, and" wishing you continued good health to cany on your good s\ ork.' "

Mr. Coleman then called on Mr. J. 11. Hall, president of the Labour liepresentation Committee, to extend a welcome to Mr .and Mrs. Semple on behalf of the Labour organisations of Gisborne.

In doing so, Mr. Hall endorsed the remarks made by Mr. Coleman, and stated that as much as Mr. Semple had done for the Labour movement, he could not have done it without the wholehearted sympathy and co-opera-tion of his partner in life, MrsSomple. Mrs. Semple had been willing to suffer wiili her husband for the principles she believed in. Fought for His Ideals On rising to respond Mr. Sempie received a wonderful reception. Hi! thanked the assembly for their very warm ami cordial reception to Mrs. Semple and himself, and Messrs. Coleman and Hall for their very complimentary remarks concerning himself and the work ho had done.

Mr. Semple then gave a brief outline of his life, and mentioned that the first Labour constitution in New Zenland was written in his homo, Ho had fought for what he considered

right. He had been imprisoned because of this. At one time ho had placed upon him a bond of £2oOO, £ISOO more than had been placed upon Ned Kelly. The only crime he had committed, if crime it be, was lo tight against oppression and for what he considered right. He had lived to sec the day when the people of Now Zealand endorsed those principles, and today he was a Cabinet Minister in the Government of the country. He paid a high tribute to the assistance he had always received from his wife. He promised the people that the Labour Government always would work in the interests of the whole of the people of New Zealand. Surprise for Mr. Coleman Mr. Hall then sprang a surprise on Mr. Coleman by presenting him with a casket similar to that presented to Mr. Semple in recognition of his untiring efforts for the benefit of Gisborne.

Li doing so, Mr. Hall stated that lie had worked with Mr. Coleman I'm over :'.(' years anil knew there was no more loyal and hard worker in the cause than Mr. Coleman. He was never beaten. He always came again In the early days he was made a re gular "Aunt Sally," put up ami knocked down; but lie always caiiu again until to-day he occupied the two highest positions it was possible for. the.people of Gisborne to bestow upon him—-Mayor and member of I'iir liament. He asked Mr. Coleman h accept the gift with the very lies! wish of the donors and a large circle of admirers.

Mr. Coleman, in briefly responding, stated he was taken completely by surprise. There was nothing he would value more dearly than this gift, and he greatly appreciated it. He thanked them all "or tiieir very fine reception and Mr. Hall for his kind remarks. What he had done was in the same spirit as Mr. Semple had done his work, because he believed it was right. It was true he had had tiis discouragements, but with the help of his wife, who had always stood shoulder to shoulder'with him, they had pressed on. He would continue along the same lines fighting for that which he considered right for the benefit to the peopie.