Labour chairman quits in protest

Press, 19 June 1980, Page 9

Labour chairman quits in protest

PA Auckland A Labour Party branch chairman in the Eden electorate has resigned over the selection of a gay rights activist as party candidate for next year’s General Election. Last month, Dr lan Scott, a medical school lecturer and former executive member of the National Gay Rights Coalition, was chosen as Labour’s candidate in Eden. Yesterday, Mr Jack Hughes said he was resigning as chairman of the Balmoral branch of the party. By putting up a gay rights candidate, Labour risked putting off some of its loyal supporters. He said he did not think Dr Scott was “electable,” and that many other party members shared that view. “I am not criticising lan Scott, I have found him open and honest. He has got more guts than I have.” Mr Hughes said he would not resign from the party: he would go to next year’s annual conference and make strong efforts to have the selection procedures changed. The Onehunga Labour electorate committee has accepted the resignation of its former chairman, Mr George Madden, without regret. Mr Madden resigned last week in protest against what he called head office influence in the selection of Mr F. M. Gerbic as Labour’s candidate for the Onehunga by-election. At a meeting on Monday evening it was moved that Mr Madden’s letter of resignation be received “with regret,” but a successful amendment had the phrase, “with regret,” removed.