MR. SAVAGE AND LOYALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1940, Page 6

MR. SAVAGE AND LOYALTY.

Air. Savage is angry Jiecause the Labour delegates of the Labour Representation Committee have protected against the '"degradation'' of Mr. J. A Lee for his fearless insistence that the platfoi-m promises of the Labour party shall be fulfilled. The very essence of Liaboui* principles is that the rank and file, by democratic, free expression, 4all control the party. The njain purpoae of the majority at the L.R.C. meeting to prevent tlie persecution of llr, for calling attention to the efau of omission liy the Cabinet. The alleged reference to the Prime Minister in the article on political psychology vu a minor matter; the main issue vu whether a Labour member is to be degraded because lie advocates that the promises made by the party to the electorate sluill lie carried out. II the members of the Government, owing to a change of opinion, or to circumstanee, lind they cannot implement their promises to the electors, then the hone»t way is to frankly say so and consult the jicople again. Amendments to the democratic constitution of New Zealand are urgently needed, so that the wiQ of the people, which is wiser than any party or Ministry, -shall prevail. We need the "initiative, referendum l'eeall," which once was a plank in tjie platform of the Labour party, advocated in opposition, but forgotten in oflee. Tlie history of the Labour movement* in Britain and Australia reminds us that Labour leaders too often co in prom ice with their principles. Shall we say: "It cannot happen here"! LIBERTY,