SENSATION IN A.L.P.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 October 1925, Page 9

SENSATION IN A.L.P.

“BLUE CIRCULAR” SCANDAL. CHARGE DISMISSED BY EXECUTIVE. Somewhat of a sensation was caused in Labour circles in Sydney recently when it was learned that one of the party’s candidates for political honoui-s had been summoned to appear before the A.L.P. executive to satisfy that body that he was not associated with the authorship of the “blue circular.” This document, which was issued just before the State elections, contained statements impugning the public probity and the private morality of many leading A.L.P. officials. These were circulated first in Goulburn in typewritten form, and almost immediately after appeared in Sydney on a blue leaflet.

From the outset there was a strong suspicion in Labour circles that the publication came from within the movement.

Detectives were asked to investigate the case. It was alleged that the candidate had told a certain union official that he was the author of the leaflet. The union official was asked to attend a special meeting of the A.L.P. execufive held to consider the case, and tho candidate also was summoned to refute the charge. The union official declined to appear, but supplied a denial that he had made any such statement regarding a conversation as the one attributed to him. After sitting from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. the executive found that the charge had not been substantiated.