MOMENTOUS GATHERING LABOUR CAUCUS MEETS IN WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 134, 3 December 1935, Page 12

MOMENTOUS GATHERING

LABOUR CAUCUS MEETS IN WELLINGTON

PRELIMINARY DISCUSSION THIS MORNING

UNBOUNDED CONFIDENCE IN LEADER

One of the most momentous meetings in the political history of New Zealand was held in Parliament Buildings today. Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party returned at the recent General Election, as well as two Legislative Councillors and members of the Central Executive of.the Labour Party, met in the Government Whip's room under the chairmanship of the Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister-elect (Mr. M. J. Savage) to discuss the political situation. The discussion, which was of a preliminary nature, lasted for just over an hour, and shortly after noon the meeting adjourned until 7 o'clock this evening.

In addition to the 53 members of the Labour Party elected on Wednesday last, there were present the two Ratana Maori members. Mr. E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori) and Mr. T. Ratana (Western Maori), the Hon. T. O'Byrne, M.L.C., and the Hon. M. Fagan, M.L.C., and the following members of the Central Executive of the Labour Party: Mr. J. Roberts (vice-president), Mr. T. Brindle, Mr. P. M. Butler, Mr. P. Dowse, Mr. G. T. Thurston, and Mr. E. Spurr. On entering the Government Whip's room, Mr. Savage was given a rousing reception, members of the caucus rising and cheering.

The meeting unanimously passed a motion expressing high appreciation of Mr. Savage's services in the past and particularly during the recent election campaign, congratulating him on ijie success of his leadership, and expressing unbounded confidence in him in the future.

The motion was carried amid cheers, and those present enthusiastically sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

A motion was also carried expressing appreciation of the services of Labour candidates who were defeated at the poll.

The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. P. Fraser), who acted as spokesman for the party, said that no announcement was yet available regarding the personnel of the Labour Ministry. A statement would be made in due course by Mr. Savage.

Mr. Fraser also announced that messages of congratulation had been received from the following:—Major Attlee, Leader of the British Labour Party; Mr. J. Middleton, general secretary of the bntish Labour Party; Mr. J. Curtin, Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party in. the Commonwealth of Australia; the Hon R Forgan Smith, Premier of Queensland; the Hon. P. Collier, Premier of Western Australia; the Hon. J. T. Lang, Leader of the New South \\ales Labour Party; the Hon. A. G. Ogilvie. Premier of TasmaniaMajor C. H. Douglas; the Douglas Social Credit Organisation in Ottawa; and Mr. J. Simpson, Mayor of Toronto.