P.M. in crushing of Mangere Leftist cell

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 6

P.M. in crushing of Mangere Leftist cell

PA Auckland The Labour Party ifl the Mangere seat of the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, has moved to crush attempts by a small extreme Left group to infiltrate a party branch, the “New Zealand Herald” reports. Mr Lange was present at a meeting of the Mangere Labour Electorate Committee on Sunday when his backers closed ranks against the group. Members of the group now face the prospect of expulsion from the party. The faction claimed to represent the Mangere Central branch. However, the committee ruled that the branch, one of several In Mangere, was to remain in recess. .The committee also dedgilthat meetings

ported to be held by the Mangere East branch were illegal and had no standing in the conduct of the party’s affairs. One person present at the week-end meeting said last evening, "There is no room in the Labour Party for these kind of people.” There were suggestions last evening that the matter could be put on the agenda of the New Zealand Labour Council meeting in Wellington this week. It is believed that a report will go to the party’s general secretary, Mr Tony Timms. Officials in the Mangere electorate referred all inquiries about the matter to the Prime Minister’s office in Wellington. Mr Lange could not be reached for comment