CAUCUS CONTROL REJECTED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27924, 22 March 1956, Page 10

CAUCUS CONTROL REJECTED

AUCKLAND LABOUR COUNCILLOR ALLEGIANCE TO PARTY WITHDRAWN (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 20. Mr W. Butler, for six years a Labour member of the Auckland City Council said tonight that he could not stand for the party at the coming election Announcing that he would be an independent for the remainder of his term on the council, he said he could no longer tolerate caucus control of his actions. At the next municipal elections, he said he would seek, a council seat on a ticket other than Labour’s, or stand as an Independent. Mr Butler was addressing the St Heliers Bay branch of the party. He h w’ ? e said ’ been ask ed to submit himself for endorsement as Labour candidate for the Auckland Mayoralty, but he had come to the conclusion that no Labour Mayor or Labour councillor could honour his declaration under the Municipal Corporations Act and still carry out his duties on the council under caucus control. i- h ,? ve not made my decision lightly. Mr Butler said. “For some years I have fought caucus control of city councillors.

‘ I am quite happy to remain a member and fight caucus control within the party, but where do I now stand?” Mr Butler asked the meeting. The chairman (Mr L. Ritchie) informed him that he was not disqualified from being a member, but if he stood for another election group or as an' Independent hostile to Labour he would be ineligible as a Labour candidate for six years. Answering an appeal to reconsider his decision. Mr Butler said he could only do that if the Labour Representation Committee abolished caucus control.

He paid a 5s subscription fee and left the meeting with a membership renewal card in his pocket. Mr Butler joined the Labour Party more than 30 years ago as a result of his association with Mr M. J. Sayage, who later became Labour Prime Minister. Among the posts he holds at present are chairman of the council’s parks committee, chairman of the special zoo committee, and chairman of the Western Springs development committee. He is vicepresident of the New Zealand Parks Administration, and is the city council’s representative on the Centennial Memorial Parks’ Committee, the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and the Great South Road Beautifying Society. He is a member of the City Council’s finance committee, staff committee. and library and art gallery committee, chairman of the council’s municipal band committee, and a council representative on the Auckland Metropolitan Drainage Board.