LABOUR PARTY CHALLENGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 49, 26 August 1938, Page 4

LABOUR PARTY CHALLENGE

In a statement issued by Mr. R. G. Morgan (chairman) and Mr. O. J. Plummer (secretary) on behalf of the Upper Hutt Election Committee of the Labour Party exception is taken to an assertion alleged to have been made by Mr. J. F. Thompson, National Party candidate for Wairarapa, at a meeting at Upper Hutt on August 8. The Labour Election Committee states that Mr. Thompson said: "If you want the freedom to worship abolished, put Labour back into office at the forthcoming election, and that is what you will get." "At the conclusion of Mr. Thompson's remarks," the committee states, "a member of the Labour Party inquired if he would be willing to answer a question. He stated his willingness to do so. The questioner thereupon challenged him to substantiate his statement regarding the abolition^of_the 'freedom to worship,' and asKed that ne give to the audience proof of his grounds for such a damaging assertion." He absolutely refused to attempt to answer the question, excusing himself by promising to answer all questions at some future meeting. "This statement has received serious consideration by our committee, which decided that under no circumstances could we allow such untruths to go unchallenged. The Labour Party is composed of, and is supported by, men and women of every denomination, whose religious and Christian principles are comparable with those of any organisations in this country, be it political or otherwise. Mr. Thompson's remarks, therefore, are a gross insult to these good people." The committee contends that the statement was made to damage, in the minds of the electors, Mr. Ben Roberts's present high standing principally and the prestige of the Labour Party generally. "On behalf of all those above mentioned in the name of all that is fair and just, the committee invites Mr. Thompson to (1) substantiate the state. ' ment made, or (2) to withdraw the remarks and apologise for having made them. If he will do this Mr. Thompson will assist Mr. Ben Roberts and those associated with him to start the election contest for the Wairarapa seat as they would have it continue, that is, in a manner worthy of the highest interpretation of democracy in politics.-