Mr Cobbe and the Labour Party

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 276, 22 November 1935, Page 8

Mr Cobbe and the Labour Party

(To tho Editor.) Sir, —(Speaking at Waiata the other evening, Mr. Gobbo is reported as having said: “(Supposing a country electorate returned a Labour man to Parliament, that member would be under the domination of the executive of the Labour Party, to which he would bo responsible in Parliament, and -not New Zealand or the electorate he represented.” I confess I lind it somewhat difficult to follow Air. Cobbe’s reasoning. As a member of the Labour Party 1 liavo pleasure in explaining the topic position. First, there are local branches throughout .New Zealand; then there are what are known as Labour Representation Committees; these are composed of members elected by the branches. Then tliero are represenatives of the various unions. These three sections elect their representatives to the annual conference, and tho annual conference determines the policy of the Labour Party. There are no “bosses” such as are to be found in Mr. Cobbe’s party. The whoie organisation is thoroughly democratic. The platform of tho party is placed before the electors who have a perfect right to accept or reject that platform.

The Labour Party has never asked for a “blank cheque-” such as Mr. C'obbe’s party asked for. A Labour member is no more under the domination of the party thah are the members of any other party. Air. Cobbe’s party holds a caucus, and that caucus, and not the electors, determines the party’s policy. This is proved by the fact that although Mr. Oobbo was elected as a prohibitionist, he voted to extend the time between the polls, and to reduce the tax on beer. In other words, Air. Cobbe sacrificed his principles at the Dehost of the party boss. Mr. Ooouc ought to be the last person in the world to speak about “domination.” Itt the selection of candidates, the Labour Party is far ahead of (ho other parties. M tich the same procedure as I liavo already outlined is followed in selecting candidates. Before they are finally endorsed they have to run the gauntlet of a contest with others who may be seeking t-lio position. Who, for instance, selected Mr. Oobbo to stand for this Electorate in the first place'/ A mero handful of interested people who becamo a law unto themselves. The average voter was ignored in the selection. The Labour movement in New Zea-

land is not dominated by any unionists or Trades Hall representatives. It is safe to say there are not three real trado unionists in the whole of tho Oroua electorate who are members of the local party. I am fairly safe in saying that very few of the presentcandidates are trade unionists. Tho Labour Party really stands above party; it stands for tho whole of the people. If it is a party at all, it is a cosmopolitan party. We have a “plan for every man” wffiilo Mr. Cobbe has no plan at all. —I am, etc., OLD IDENTITY. 20/11/35.