Elections Showed Revolt Of Rank and File

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 121, 23 May 1941, Page 6

Elections Showed Revolt Of Rank and File

HON. W. E. BARNARD PREDICTS POSTPONEMENT OF GENERAL ELECTION NEW PLYMOUTH, May 21. “A revolt by the rank and lile of the workers against Trades Hall tyranny,’’ was how the Hon. W. E. Barnard, M.P., Speaker of the House of Representatives, at Hawera last night described the defeat of Labour candidates at the local body elections on Saturday. He predicted that there would be no Parliamentary elections this year. “I have no reason to regret the step I took when I left the official Labour Party, and, in fact, when I see what happened in New Zealand on Saturday I realise that thousands of workers are of the same mind," said Mr. Barnard. “The defeat of Labour candidates indicated a growing revolt by the rank and file of the workers against the tyranny that has been brought to the Labour Party during the last two or three years." Chose Lesser Evil. The working man was a decent chap, but because of union officials lie was difficult to get at. Thousands of workers voted for Tory candidates as the lesser of two evils. “I express my delight at the revolt of the best elements of the workers against Trades Hall tyranny," he said. Although an election was due this year he did not think there would be one, and he did not think the leaders of the Labour Party wanted it, and they would be still less inclined to have one after the result of the local body elections. The Labour Party had either to face the election or form a coalition Government. The Democratic Labour Party welcomed the awakening of political freedom and the resentment of the people at the methods used at recent Labour conferences, he said. After all, it was not much good fighting Fascism overseas if they were going to build it up * >/nyii n i * > n