DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1946, Page 2

DEMOCRATIC LABOUR

PLANS FOR CONTESTING THE 1 ELECTION MR. LEE IN HELD AGAIN ? [SPECIAL' TO STAR.] WELLINGTON, August 1. Mr John A. Lee, leader of the Democratic Labour Party, plans to contest Grey Lynn again at the General Election this year. He formerly held Grey Lynn for Labour with record majorities.

The plans of the party were under discussion at a conference of the national executive at Auckland at the week-end. The national secretary, Mr F. M. Earle, of’Wellington, reported yesterday on behalf of the party that the following decisions were reached:

“1. That Mr John A. Lee be nominated for the Grey Lynn seat, Mr Lee consenting 'subject to the endorsement of the Grey Lynn branch. Finance Required

“2. In regard to the election generally, the national executive realises that the minimum cost of electoral activity per electorate for the National and Labour parties is no less than £lOOO, which contrasts with the total of £l5OO spent on the whole of New Zealand by the Democratic Labour national executive in 1945. Democratic Labour, to make a comparable national contest, would require not less than £20,000. “The national executive is, therefore, unable to undertake financial responsibility for sustained or widespread Dominion organisation, but is willing to consider the approval of any candidate selected by a committee which is capable in advance of guaranteeing sufficient funds to ensure a well-supported contest on behalf of the candidate.

“Candidates selected by groups or people calling themselves Democratic Labour will be repudiated unless the Democratic Labour national executive is satisfied of their bona fides.

“Mr Lee will address a public meeting late in August or very early in September in Wellington. Preparations for the preliminary nomination and support of-good candidates are well in hand in Wellington South and Wanganui, which were contested by Messrs C. S. Teece and Sydney Duffy respectively at the last election. Timaru and Riccarton

“Democratic Labour supporters in Timaru and Riccarton have invited Mr Douglas Cresswell’s nomination, but Mr Cresswell has not yet made any decision. “The national executive will meet again in September to consider representations regarding, support lor candidates from branches throughout New Zealand.” Mr Earle added that splendid results had followed Democratic Labour’s 1943 campaign for motherhood allowances and nationalisation of the Bank of New Zealand, and the Democratic Labour Party candidates would have a worthy programme for the 1946 election.