LABOUR POLITICS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 December 1927, Page 9

LABOUR POLITICS

MR. SNOWDEN’S RESIGNATION. RECENT SURTAX DISPUTE. MAY HAVE HASTENED IT. BY CABLE—rRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 12.30 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Dec. 29. Mr Philip Snowden, explaining his resignation from the Independent Labour Party, says correspondence shows that branches throughout the country are experiencing dimcuity in keeping the organisation going because the local labour parties are much more powerful and are now capable of more eihectively accomplishing, without duplication, tne work for wnick the Inuependent Labour Party was created. Mr J. Maxton, M.P., chairman of the Independent Labour Party, expresses the opinion that the recent surtax dispute hastened Mr Snowden’s resignation, and says: “We cannot regard nim nowadays as a Socialist agitator, which at present is mostly needed. The resignation removes some restraint from the Independents.’’ Mr J. Wheatley said that it was evident that Mr Snowden’s mind was no longer running on Socialist lines.

OUT OF TOUCH WITH PARTY

LETTER FROM SECRETARY

Received 1.5 p.m. to-day. LONDON, Dec. 29

Mr. Francis Johnson, secretary of the Independent Labour Party, has sent a letter to Mr. Snowden. He says: “Ihe party will always remember your work as a pioneer propagandist and 1 the distinction with which you twice occupied the chair, but the mass of members do not agree l that there' is no necessity for the party; on the contrary, they are sure it has still a separate function in the greater Labour movement.”

The letter recalls that Mr. Snowden, as member of the National Council, decided in 1922 that the continuance of the party was necessary in order to maintain the Socialist movement, and adds: “It has been known for some time that you were out of touch with the party; nevertheless I am sure you will continue to work for Socialism in your own way.”—A.P.A. and “Sun.”