Anger, disbelief over Labour court action

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 6

Anger, disbelief over Labour court action

By

BRENDON BURNS,

political reporter

The Cabinet’s endorsement of legal action taken against the Labour Party’s ruling council brought expressions of anger and disbelief yesterday.

A member of the party’s New Zealand council said that the Auckland Central electorate of Mr Richard Prebble was “way out of line” in suggesting a case might be brought. Last week’s Cabinet meeting backed Mr Prebble and his supporters in taking legal action against the council’s ruling that union delegates be given the right to vote at the annual electorate meeting. ("The Press,” May 21). A member of the New Zealand council said yesterday that any suggestion of the Labour Party’s being taken to court by its own members was outrageous. “If you. are going to take your own party to the courts, that is way out of line,” said the council member, who asked not to be identified. Other Labour Party sources said they found the prospect of such legal action hard to believe.

A senior Government member yesterday confirmed that the Cabinet had backed Mr Prebble and his electorate in taking legal action. He warned against this being- seen >as leading necessarily to court action. But he said there was concern among Labour Ministers and members of Parliament about unions abusing their rights to play a role in electorate affairs. It was to be hoped that the legitimate exercising of this right could be defined by either legal action or the Labour Party’s New Zealand council, said the Government member. The council will begin on Friday a three-day quarterly meeting in Wellington. Mr Prebble and his electorate committee have been asked to appear and explain why a Labour Party directive was ignored.

This said that delegates from five unions — Engineers, Labourers, Distribution, Service, and Tramway Workers — should be allowed to vote at this month’s annual electorate meeting in Auckland Central. Prebble loyalists called off the meeting and declared themselves in control. Mr Prebble later sent a letter to the 1600 members of his electorate, saying that five unions had formed a cell which included extreme Left-wing agitators. He said the unions had told him they intended to take over his seat and all other safe Labour electorates. The letter was passed to the news media — not surprising, given its wide circulation. A confidential memorandum from the Labour Party’s general secretary, Mr Tony Timms, was also leaked yesterday. This criticised the lack

of discipline shown by members of the party involved in the Auckland Central wrangle. Mr Timms said the publicity was unacceptable and had brought the Labour Party into disrepute. In what seemed a direct reference to Mr Prebble, the memorandum said: “Any member who cannot accept that legitimate channels exist for working through grievances (real or imagined) should think again.” Asked for comment, Mr Prebble said he fully agreed with the memorandum. “The news media will be well aware that legitimate Auckland Central electorate office-holders have exercised great selfrestraint in not making public statements,” he said. Mr Timms’ memorandum had been sent to Labour’s regional councils, electorate committees and union affiliates, said a party spokesman

yesterday. No comment would be made until after the New Zealand council meeting, on Friday. The council is made up of 38 members, and rules the party except for the time of annual conferences. The chairman of the council is the Labour Party’s president, Mr Rex Jones, who is also secretary of the Engineer’s Union, one of those who Mr Prebble said was trying to oust him. There are 11 other union members on the council, at least three of whom work for unions which Mr Prebble has named as trying to take over his seat. ,The Parliamentary party representatives on the council are the Prime Minister, Mr Lange; his deputy, Mr Palmer; the Minister of Transport, Mr Jeffries; and the Undersecretary for Health, Mr Peter Dunne.