Combined parties

Press, 17 December 1976, Page 12

Combined parties

Sir. — In a letter dated December 13. a correspondent. Roger Wilson, used a Labour-Values debate to demonstrate what he saw as a widening gap between the Parliamentary Labour Party and the “grassroots’’ member, ship. As a participant in that debate, I am surprised Mr Wilson should have so interpreted Labour’s arguments Naturally, differences of opinion do occur between individual members of the Labour Party and its Parliamentary leadership, especially when the realities of office cause a Labour Government to proceed with more caution than some party members would wish for. Such differences. however, tend to strengthen the party rather than weaken it. They do not constitute a widening gap. In seeking to make political capital. Mr Wilson sadly, but unfairly, misrepresented the

whole spirit of honest discussion in which the debate mentioned was undertaken. — Yours, etc. M. W. GOURLEY. December 15, 1976. Sir. — J. F. Garvey, in his letter to “The Press” (December 14). has, in promoting the National Party, argued that if Social Credit’s financial policy is closer to Labour’s policy than National’s, then the public should beware of Social Credit, bearing in mind the “failures” of the Labour Government. In my studies of Social Credit’s financial policy I have not read anything that remotely resembles the policy of either of the major parties so that J. F. Garvey’s argument is lacking in objective reasoning. I feel J. F. Garvey has done Social Credit an unjustified disservice. — Yours, etc. T. J. KAVANAGH. December 14, 1976.