THE SPLIT IN THE LIBERAL VOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 286, 2 December 1896, Page 2

THE SPLIT IN THE LIBERAL VOTES.

(To the Editor).

Sir,—l obaorve Mr W. 0. Fraser has ventured to write a letter endeavouring to &hovv chat you had not. correctly stated the position of fche Trades and Labour Council at a meeting which some time ago was called by tha Knights of Labour for the purpose of consolidating the labour party and preventing any split in the ranks of the workers. Mr Frasor's statement is grossly misleading, and must be taken with the usual grain ot bait). I was a tnouibt-r ot the Trade 3 Council ab the time, and it was owing to tho bumptious resolve on bbo part; of three or four to have Fawcus or nothing that I sent my resignation in to my society sib a delegate to that body.

The facta are as follows :—The Knights of Labour had called a meeting of all labour ortfaimtititms, and thotsa closely coanected with them, for the purpoeo ol coming to coma definite decision thai there ahould bo unanimity ot opinion and action in the selection of a labour eaudidato to run ab the general election, and araongr thoee invited to attend was the Trades and Labour Council, who sent three delegates. The meeting- was, we wore told, a >vol!----iUbcwdod and representative oao, and (V I,'euoral de3iro waa expressed that good tuighb come out of the various bodies meeting together, and that after a fair test oae man should bo selecbod, who would bo loyally and faithfully supported.

At the meeting of the Trades and Labour Council, when the delegates gave their verbal report, they one and all made it clear that this convention was merely a put-up job to further the interest of Mr K. Withy, who was present, and, 1 believe, acted ac ChairmfcM. Oa thesa grounds the delegates were withdrawn. But on the next meeting nighb of fche Council two gentlemen attended as a deputation from the convention and stated in a most manly and fair manner that if the single-fcaxera wore the only Bbumbling block in the way they would stand aside altogether ; and from whab Mr Allaopp (one of the deputation) said, it was manifest thab the delegates from the Trades and Labour Council mosfc unfairly misled the Council by their report. Mr Allsopp appealed to the Council neb to stand out of this important convention ; but after the deputation bad withdrawn they proceeded ab ence to eelecb a candidate (Fawcuo cut and dry). I myeelf appealed to fche Council nob to again mako itself a laughing stock, but) at least to call a meeting of affiliated unions and gefa an expression of feeling on bhe matter. No, ib was Fawcus or nothing, and they flopped bim down with a "Tread on the tail of my coat, ah, ah !" With these proceedings I did nob agree, and ab once withdrew and resigned. It was because Fawcus paw be was out of it that the Convention cauaa to nothing. Thereisno doubt abuut that, and there waa ao6 a

word said ab the Council meeting about) the single taxcrs " not being classed aa a bona jide. section of the labour party." This is purely an emanation from Air Fraaer's own brain. Mr Frasor endeavours to create a slur on tho sOorfca of the Liberal Association in catling a public meeting of all workers to select* a candidate. This is what the Trades and Labour Council should have [ done, (tntl which I strongly appealed to them to do : but its was nob their gama. The action of tho Liberal Association was a commendable one in every reepecb, and they deserve nil credit. As regards Mr Bawcua being nominated at this meeting by two of the Council, it is all bunkum to say he was nob responsible for it. He thought lit- had a soft thing on, i bub ib did not. come oil, and this was on 1 a par with tho game they played ab the above convention. Why did ho not come forward a% a man and stand the test on the platform ab Sb. Jamos's Halt ?■ Simply because ho had nob tho backbone. Mr Fraeer talks about the uumbor of votes recorded at the public meeting, and stafceß that only about 400 persons voted. This mast road a bit funny when 1 ntafea that the total number who recorded their votes for Fawcus tit the Trades and Labour Council was six. Would the workers of Auckland be again unfortunate in noC gainings member taken from ths ranks of the workers, or will be wholly and solely through the misguidance of Mr Fraser, asd tho egotistical bearing and coercive attitude of the Trade and Labour Council. Thanking you in anticipation, I am etc., James Regan.