MR. SEMPLE TO REPLY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 121, 25 May 1938, Page 6

MR. SEMPLE TO REPLY

Sir,—l notice that the Hon. I Semple, Minister of Public Work:

has advertised that he is replying to allegations made by Mr. H. C. Jenkins. He does not specifically say that he is replying to or taking up Mr. Jenkins' challenge to the Government to produce the so-called insulation plan for New Zealand. The only insulation the Government has so far granted New Zealand is higher internal costs and higher tariffs. It is hardly likely that it would be left to the Minister of Public Works to reply to Mr. Jenkins' challenge to the Government on their insulation plan, as this is a matter for the Prime Minister or the Minister of Finance. Both of these gentlemen have failed to rise to this occasion—perhaps Mr. Semple is rushing in where the Minister of Finance and Prime Minister fear to tread. It may be, however, that Mr. Semple is dealing with certain statements that Mr. Jenkins might have made with reference to the Government's Public Works policy. This is possibly the case, though the specific challenge of Mr. Jenkins to the Government at Bulls and elsewhere was on the insulation policy. At all events if Mr. Sentple intends to deal with insulation in his speech at Wanganui on the 31st inst., the public of Bulls and Wanganui will be served up with the curious mixture of insulation and Public Works by the man ot running shoe fame. If, however, he makes no reference to insulation, he will, like the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, let the public down. The public has a right to know all about this so-called insulation policy, of which the Government had said much but explained nothing.- I am, etc., D. SUTHERLAND.