Parliamentary Career
| Parliament of New Zealand | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1918–1919 | 19th | Wellington South | Labour | |
| 1928–1931 | 23rd | Wellington East | Labour | |
| 1931–1935 | 24th | Wellington East | Labour | |
| 1935–1938 | 25th | Wellington East | Labour | |
| 1938–1943 | 26th | Wellington East | Labour | |
| 1943–1946 | 27th | Wellington East | Labour | |
| 1946–1949 | 28th | Miramar | Labour | |
| 1949–1951 | 29th | Miramar | Labour | |
| 1951–1954 | 30th | Miramar | Labour | |
Semple was elected to the seat of Wellington South Parliament for Labour in a 1918 by-election, but lost the seat in the 1919 general election. In 1928 he won the Wellington East seat, and held it until 1946, when it was renamed Miramar. He then held Miramar until 1954, when he retired.
During his term in Parliament, Semple held many important infrastructure portfolios, such as Minister of Public Works and Minister of Railways. Semple was seen by many as the public face of the first Labour government's infrastructure investment. During World War II he designed and had built the 'Bob Semple tank', made from corrugated iron and a tractor base. The tank had numerous design flaws and other practical problems and was never put into production, although it was and continues to be regarded with affection by many New Zealanders.
He did not seek re-election in the 1954 election, and died in New Plymouth in January 1955.
His wife Margaret was a Wellington City Councillor from 1938 to 1941.
Read more about this topic: Bob Semple
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