STORMY MEETING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 February 1925, Page 5

STORMY MEETING

BRITISH LABOUR PARTY. OVER AITACK ON PRINCE. CLYDESIDERS UNREPENTANT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT LONDON, Feb. 24. The Labour Party held a meeting today, which discussed Mr David Kirkwood’s outburst in the House of Commons against the Prince of Wales. Mr Kirkwood was present, and explained that he was asked by tUe executive of the Parliamentary Labour Party to raise the question. He added that Air Ramsay MacDonald was chairman of the meeting which decided on such action. ' Mr MacDonald vigorously denied this statement.

The official report of to-day’s meeting declares that Mr Kirkwood’s statement was based on a misunderstanding. The incident, therefore, has oeen closed. Other reports state that Mr Kirkwood and his Clydesiders are bluntly unrepentant and resented the attempt to pillorv them, but they and a few English Labourites were in a hopeless minority. It was stated that the misUnderstanding lay in Air Kirkwood taking seriously an executive member s casual remark that he was the man to take the matter up in the House. The Daily Chronicle’s lobbyist says: “To-day’s stormy Labour meeting shows that there is a growing lack of understanding between Air MacDonald and his extreme element. Mr AlacDonaJd has begun to realise that liis leadership is impossible unless the rank and file submit to discipline, but the Scottish back-benchers refuse to accept any dictation. They regard the leader as a mrre mouthpiece for their opinions. The political correspondent of the Evening News says lively scenes marked the meeting, which was crowded. Air Kirkwood vigorously and defiantly reiterated that a member of the executive gave the impression that the party would support his attack on the tour of the Prince of Wales, The Clydesiders unanimously supported Air Kirkwood’s remarks, and refused to accept the leader’s dictation upon what thev consider vital principles. The moderates condemn the criticisms leading to the uproar. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, the chairman, had i difficulty in restoring order. .No resolution was passed, but- the Clydesiders '".re embittered, leading to the possibility of widening the party split.