N.S.W. LABOR PARTY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12865, 20 May 1936, Page 5

N.S.W. LABOR PARTY

Mil. GARDEN EXPELLED. ALLEGED DISLOYALTY. (U.P.A. by Elec Ter. CoQrrgTbtV. SYDNEY, May 19. Mr. J. S. Garden, M'.P., was expelled ifrom tho Labour i Party at a meeting of the State Australian Labour Party executive last night by 19 votes to- four. Mr. Garden appeared before tho executive to explain charges of alleged disloyalty made by him at a meeting of llie Labour council in March last. Mr. Garden, in his defence, repeated many of his allegations, hut admfftr-d that certain other charge') he made were* capable of qualification. 'The executive held that Mr. Garden had failed to substantiate his charges against tlie president, Mr. P. J. Keffen, and the organising secretary, Mr. J. Jj. Martin, and that the charges were disruptive arid likely to irnpair the- unity of the party.

The Sydney Mo miry* Herald says that the expulsion c: Mr. Garden is expected to precipitate one off the big gest crises in the history of the Lang Labour movement which, according to many Labour officials, may result in the overthrow of Mr. J. T. Lang. MR. GARDEN WILL APPEAL.

AUGHT IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT (U.I’.A. by Elec. Tel Capyrbjht). (Received Mav 19. 8.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 19. .Mr, Garden, in an interview to-day, declared that he . would appeal at the next Easter. Labor conference against the executive’s decision. He added: “I have been expelled before for a- principle and time has proved mo right as it will do again. I am as deeply- concerned as anyone about the need for unity in tlie Labor movement. I am equally insistent that no dictator shall dominate Australian Labor Party. Might is not always right.” Mr. Garden’s expulsion by the State branch carries with it expulsion from the. Parliamentary caucus or the party rooms at Canberra where developments are now awaited.

LABOR GRAVELY PERTURBED. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). (Received Mav 20. 12.25 a.m.) SYDNEY. May 19. , Labor circles are gravely perturbed over tlie expulsion of Mr. Garden which, it is feared, will intensify the faction fight already begun over the control of Labor’s broadcasting station. Although Mr. Garden has been removed from the Labor party, be still remains a member of the Labor Council which represents the most active unions of the State and includes many unions affiliated with the State Labour party. He thus has a large following representing the. industrial wing, which is capable of completely dividing Labor’s forces in this State. This aspect is causing most anxiety to Federal Labor politicians. who fear that’ the breach between Mr. Lang and Air. Garden will be most difficult to heal and probably have repercussions at next election, which is what they want to avoid. Newspapers recall that Mr. Garden was responsible for the “Red rules.” which gave Air. Lang complete control over the Labour party and provided political careers for several of those now prominent in t-ho Labour movement.