MINISTER & CRITIC

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 June 1938, Page 8

MINISTER & CRITIC

STATEMENTS BY MR SEMPLE CHALLENGED. TAXES AND PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYMENT. ' (By Telegraph—Press Association). WANGANUI, June 3. “From his reference at Johnsonville to myself Mr Semple is evidently pleased with his easy walk-over at Wanganui, and if he finds any satisfaction from it he is welcome to it,” said Mr H. C. Jenkins, Wanganui, tonight, commenting on remarks made by the Hon R. Semple at a public meeting at Johnsonville last night. “Circumstances so chanced that I was unable to take the platform against him,” said Mr Jenkins, “Had I done so it would not have been so comfortable for Mr Semple. However, I wish to correct one or two statements of his.

“In the first place I did not, as he is reported to have stated at Bulls, enter the employ of the last Government to attack the Labour Party, nor did I, as he is reported to have said at Johnsonville, enter the employ of the banks to attack the Labour Party. My job for the banks was to enunciate sound banking and economic principles. My specific instructions were to keep clear of party strife. It was admittedly a difficult task, seeing the banks were being attacked by members of the Labour Party. Apparently the idea current in Labour Party circles is that opponents should not defend themselves. “With reference to Mr Semple’s reference to a report that I had said that last year's Public Works 'programme amounted to £25,000,000, or words to that effect: This is so obvious of misreport of what I did say that it could deceive nobody. The fact that it was the total estimated income of the current year indicates where the confusion arose in the crossfire of questions and answers which was going on at the time. “The point Mr Semple seems to leave alone is the question: Why tax men receiving £5 a week to provide jobs for men digging tunnels in the wrong place, like Deniair, at £lO a week? Men on £5 a week will doubtless enjoy the privilege of contribution.”