GREATER FREEDOM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19623, 5 May 1938, Page 5

GREATER FREEDOM

DOMINION PEOPLE DENIAL OF DICTATORSHIP ME. SEMPLE EMPHATIC REPLY MADE TO CANON "PURE POLITICAL BIAS" (Pur Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. - "I think that this is an insta'hce of pure political bias," said the Minister of Public. Works, the Hon. R. Semple, when commenting to-day on the censure of conditions in New Zealand which was voiced by Canon E. 'Gowring, now canon of Bristol, but once an officer of the Colonial Bank of New Zealand, a gold prospector, an explorer and a joint proprietor of a mail service, who declared in an interview at Auckland on Monday that politically. New Zealand had reached a state of veiled dictatorship, that crime among young people was increasing and that drunkenness and rowdyism were worse than he had ever seen in England.

"If the views of this clerical canon are in keeping with his Christian philosophy, then I am afraid that I do not understand his mind at all," Mr. Semple said, "but in any case he has fled from the "country before he can be called on to prove his words and his charges. However, I am perfectly willing to challenge any substitute he or his friends may name and debate his arguments on the public platform. "I can understand such a statement being made by some irresponsible person, but coming from "a distinguished gentleman, it is amazing and astounding, particularly since it was made on the eve of the departure of the canon from New Zealand. As a canon he fires a broadside of political stink bombs at New Zealand after enjoying our hospitality for so long and then makes a masterly exit from the country. Such action ill becomes a gentleman of his type, particularly when he claims to be a Christian ambassador." "Tissue of Falsehoods"

"This statement is a tissue of falsehoods," said the Minister, when commenting on the remarks which Canon Gowring made about the expenditure by his (Mr. Semple's) department. "Canon Gowring mentions the Homer Saddle tunnel. I have pointed out before that this was started by the last Government, but that is apart from the issue raised by the canon.

"I know a good deal more than the canon, of course, about the type of work undertaken at the Homer tunnel, having spent more than 30 years at such jobs, but the Homer contract has been let to one of the most capable engineers on underground work in this or any other country, Mr. A. F. Downer, a former engineer of the Public Works Department.

"He has undertaken some of the biggest tunnelling jobs in New Zealand, including tttie supervision of the Tawa Fiat job'and the Mt. Victoria tunnel at Wellington. He is a pastmaster at his job and I can speak with some degree of confidence. There is no wastage on his Homer tunnel contract. The men there are paid on results. As they are working on the co-operative system, they would lose from any wastage. "The progress being made by Mr. Downer and his men is double what it was under the previous administration."

Catering For Visitors

Mr. Semple also took exception to criticism by Canon Gowring of the work on the Havelock track. This work was not being done under the direct control of the Government, he said, but it was still a type of work which the Government encouraged, since it involved renewing scenic tracks which gave access for visitors such as Canon Gowring to the beauty spots of the Dominion. "Since the canon first fired his shot and then made his exit, it is impossible for us to challenge him to prove that there is a wastage on any job," continued Mr. Semple. "The canon knew, of course, that it would be impossible for us to challenge him since he has left the country, but to say the least of it his action is cowardly and we have no way of making him face the music and prove his ridiculous contentions."

"It is strange that, in view of all the publicly available figures, we have this alleged authority making loose, wild and cowardly statements and then leaving the country by the back door before he can be called on to prove what he says. I could understand this coming from a person with a politically distorted mind, but coming from a gentleman with a Christian mind and idealism, it cannot be understood. Term of Parliament

"The same man makes allegations about a veiled dictatorship existing here, but look at the record of the Labour Government. Take one instance. We found when we were returned that we could, if we liked, maintain the Government in power for a four-year term before we called for an election. The last Government had secured this- extension of the Parliamentary term by legislation, although we fought it as unconstitutional. "When we came into power one of our first jobs was to bring in legislation which shortened our term to three years. Was that the action of a dictatorship, veiled or real? "That is a fair answer to that lie. The people here are now far more able to express a free opinion than they have ever been. Civil servants have been given this right for the first time and we now have a free and unfettered democracy and a free church. The people of this country are the masters of their own political destinies and captains of their own souls. They have far greater freedom than any other country in the world."