ADDITION TO LIBRARY

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32568, 30 March 1971, Page 18

ADDITION TO LIBRARY

Labour Party pamphlets

A special collection of pamphlets, papers and correspondence dealing with the early history of the Labour movement in New Zealand has been presented to the University of Canterbury Library by Mr M. A. Connelly, M.P. for Wigram, the Vice-Chancellor of the university (Professor N. C. Phillips) announced at the University Council meeting yesterday.

The papers are those of Mr Connelly’s father, Mr Michael Connelly, a member of the Legislative Council from 1936 to 1950, who took an active part in the early mining and railway unions on the West Coast He led the negotiations to make the now defunct “Grey River Argus” a Labour daily, served on the advisory committee of the party’s national executive, contested the Chalmers seat in 1925, took an active part in local body affairs in Dunedin, served on the Fire Service Council, and was president of the Associated Sav-

ings Banks. The pamphlets and papers deal largely with the early history of the Labour Party, and radical and economic theory and propaganda and the correspondence with his activities in many fields. Included in the collection is material which belonged to Mr Angus McLagan, member of Parliament for Riccarton from 1946-56. Mr McLagan was a leader of the Miners’ Union on the West Coast before he became first president of the Federation of Labour, a member of the Legislative Council and Minister of Manpower and National Service and Labour. The McLagan section includes many of his speeches, papers, and a full collection of mining regulations and awards.