CONDEMNATION OF MR J. A. LEE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23004, 26 April 1940, Page 4

CONDEMNATION OF MR J. A. LEE

RESOLUTION BY BRANCH OP WORKERS’ UNION CONFIDENCE IN MR FRASER The following resolution was carried unanimously at a representative meeting of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union held in the Trades Hall;— “That this meeting of the Christchurch branch of the New Zealand Workers’ Union expresses its unqualified condemnation of Mr J. A. Lee for his vicious personal attack upon our late Prime Minister, and wholeheartedly supports the action of the annual conference in expelling the member for Grey Lynn. Further, we feel that all Labour principles of loyalty and unity have been violated by both Mr J. A. Lee and Mr W. E. Barnard, and that it is the duty of these two men. who profess such a love for democracy, to give their electors an opportunity of cleaning them out of political life; and also, we desire to express our full confidence in the Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, and his Government.” MR BARNARD’S RESIGNATION DEMAND BY NAPIER LABOUR BRANCH (PBJISS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NAPIER. April 23. Approximately 20 supporters of the Hon. W. E. Barnard left a meeting of the Napier branch of the Labour Party at the conclusion of an address by the national secretary of the Labour Party (Mr M. Moohan). Later, the meeting resolved:—“ That the national executive of the New Zealand Labour Party accept the resignation from the party of Mr Barnard and demand that he immediately resigns his seat in Parliament, as he no longer has the confidence of the party which was responsible for electing him to Parliament.** A second resolution was carried to the effect that the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) be congratulated on his election to the leadership and expressing confidence that under his leadership the cause of Labour will prosper. NEW PRIME MINISTER CONGRATULATED “Of all the men who could have been chosen, he is the best for the position,” said Mr G. C. Warren on Wednesday, when he moved, at a meeting of the North Canterbury provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union, that the Prime Minister (the Hon, P. Fraser) be congratulated on his appointment. "He is a pretty good man to the farmers,” Mr Warren continued. “We believe that he is a man worth supporting. Mr Fraser is a strong man with a good deal of good Scottish sagacity. Whether he will be able to keep the Labour Party together is another matter,” Mr Warren added. Mr A. M. Carpenter, who said that the Prime Minister’s ideas for assisting the Empire in producing food and sending troops overseas merited the support of the union, seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.