Labour Minister urinates in hotel corridor
April 29th, 2005 at 6:37 am by David FarrarI’m sorry but this is just disgusting behaviour. Urinating in a hotel corridor is unacceptable from anyone, let alone an MP and Minister of the Crown.
Samuels is quoted as saying “he does not know what all the fuss is about”. In another story he denied the incident all together.
It would have taken only a minute to get from the corridor to the lobby toilets. Even if you are bursting, you wet your pants rather than risk other hotel patrons seeing a Minister of the Crown (and No 10 on Labour’s List) with his trousers down, urinating in the corridor. No-one sober could have possibly decided this was an appropriate course of action.
I’m not a huge believer in the idea that MPs are role models in terms of their private life, and must be saints. But urinating in a hotel corridor is not a private act. It staggers me that Labour thinks there is no issue about this, and in fact whip Darren Hughes is more concerned that it was made public, than it happened.
This is not the first incident of this type for Dover Samuels. I recall that some time ago he was not allowed to board a domestic flight due to his behaviour, which media suggested was alcohol affected. This suggests a recurring problem, not a one-off lapse.
UPDATE: The other incident was Joe Hawke, not Dover Samuels. I retract the last paragraph. They are both Labour Maori List MPs from Northland, hence my confusion (Hawke retired last election). Apologies for the error, but this does show the nice thing abotu blogs that people will pull you up if you make a mistake, and the errors can be corrected quickly.
UPDATE2: I understand the allegation from the hotel staff member is quite explicit and it is not simply a case of could not hold on, but some very specific undesirable behaviour. Hopefully the staff member concerned will not be gagged and can clear the issue up.
No tag for this post.
April 29th, 2005 at 7:36 am
I trust the Police will look into this and charge Samuels with offensive behavior. But I am not sure the Police are acting independantly with this Government who seem to be full of felons with many MPs with criminal backgrounds and committing offences while in office.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 8:41 am
So Ginger Pubes considers the incident “regrettable”. It was downright disgusting and typical behaviour of a slob like Samuels.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 8:54 am
Interesting. Morning Report is spinning the line that in fact he wet himself. That is, peed his pants. Which story is true? Still, you only hear about one pee in three.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 8:55 am
Perhaps I’m missing something – but why is this a public issue? Why is it such a big deal?
If someone can’t get to a toilet in time and has a wee accident it’s deeply embarrassing but not exactly a matter of national significance.
If I were in a hotel and couldn’t get into my room, and the staff couldn’t get me in either and I was desparate for a leak I hope I’d manage to make it to a toilet off the lobby or something – but I’m not an old man with an old man’s bladder.
So Samuels did something deeply embarrassing and personal which we all hope we’d never do. But honestly – who gives a damn?
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:11 am
It is probably unwise for young people with perfect bladders and prostates to comment on holding on when under pressure.
I am 64 and have “just made it” many times. I have also found myself in a long hotel corridor with no toilets (most don’t) with a card which would not open my door.
Fortunately I have not yet experienced both at the same time and place. And if it ever does I trust no staff member will release the unfortunate event to the press.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:16 am
we have ad’s on tv highlighting our drinking behaviour, i think this sort of thing is a perfect example
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:24 am
I’ve seen nothing to suggest he just had a wee accident. All the background detail regarding the fact the hotel manager was very upset suggests Samuels actually urinated in the corridor, rather than just wet himself. There is a world of difference.
If a hotel staff member found you had just wet yourself, they would be apologetic and helpful. However if they find you having pulled your trousers down or zip down, and urinating in the middle of the corridor, then you will get upset.
I can not see any reason the hotel staff member would have got upset if it was the former.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:30 am
It is probably unwise for young people with perfect bladders and prostates to comment on holding on when under pressure.
I am 64 and have “just made it” many times. I have also found myself in a long hotel corridor with no toilets (most don’t) with a card which would not open my door.
Fortunately I have not yet experienced both at the same time and place. And if it ever does I trust no staff member will release the unfortunate event to the press.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:33 am
It is probably unwise for young people with perfect bladders and prostates to comment on holding on when under pressure.
I am 64 and have “just made it” many times. I have also found myself in a long hotel corridor with no toilets (most don’t) with a card which would not open my door.
Fortunately I have not yet experienced both at the same time and place. And if it ever does I trust no staff member will release the unfortunate event to the press.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:36 am
Sorry about the multiple post but I kept getting a message saying it had not gone through because I had not filled out the security code.
Also I understand the Manager was upset because Dover had strong words with the staff member about the failed card.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 9:58 am
Of course you want to attack all the time, but no David, it wasn’t Dover in the domestic flight event. Suggest you a) check your facts and retract and b) be more careful in future before bursting forth.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 10:07 am
Darren Hughes is a whip?
Good lord.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 10:15 am
Phil – who was it then? I am checking, but at this stage have a very clear memory of Samuels having an airport incident. Will post an update.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 10:44 am
Not a good look in election year.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 10:50 am
Owen -
With all due respect, I’ve spent several years working in hotels as a cleaner and have had to deal with urine and faeces soiled rooms occupied by perfectly healthy folks who were just drunken pigs.
Linda Clark has quoted the rather explicit incident log report (around 10.15am) and it was not a case of a guest having “an accident”
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
I think we might be being a little too hard on Dover. It could be that this act is part of his culture just as Tame Iti and Dun Mihaka doing brown eyes in the past was part of their culture.Mind like my Australian friends and relations I wish they would restrict such cultural demonstrations to their Marae.
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
Baxter reminds me of a line in a diary of Lt Col Arapeta Awatere.
He was part of a British-led force that captured one of Hitler’s lairs in WWII, and shocked the Brit officers by urinating on the carpet in front of them.
“The greatest thing in Maoridom when you capture your enemy is to eat his head,” he said. “This is our highest form of revenge. Well, as Hitler is not here, the next best thing I can do is piss on his carpet.”
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 7:47 pm
why are you so surprised david that labour don’t think this is an issue when, after all, they appear to have accepted john tamihere pissing all over everyone he could think off. so after that episode what is a hallway to them?
Vote:April 29th, 2005 at 11:56 pm
I am waiting for Samuels to justify his actions in cultural terms.
Vote:April 30th, 2005 at 2:56 am
I heard he wet himself right after someone handed him something headed “Maori Party poll data.”
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