EXPELLED FROM PARTY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 November 1937, Page 8

EXPELLED FROM PARTY

PROMINENT LABOUR MAN TROUBLE OVER LETTERS TO “PRESS” Thirty-one years of membership of the New Zealand Labour Party by Mr Hiram Hunter, one of the founders of the movement in Christchurch, were abruptly ended last night, when he was informed verbally of his expulsion from the party, reports this morning’s Christchurch “Press.’’ The expulsion order was agreeo to at a special meeting of the Labour Representation Committee in the city, called to discuss letters written by Mr

Hunter in the correspondence columns of the “Press.” Portions of these letters had incurred the displeasure of certain of the members of the Kiccarton branch of the party, which called on Mr Hunter to apologise and retract. Mr Hunter refused. First president of the original Federation of Labour, and workers’ representative on the Arbitration Court for three years, Mr Hunter’s active connection with the Labour movement extends over a period of 3l years. Positions he has held include the national secretaryship of the New Zealand Timber Workers’ Union, vicepresident of the New Zealand Tiades and Labour Council, Labou. membei (for the Sydenham vara) of the Christchurch City Council from 1912 to 1923, president of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee, and secretary of the New Zealand Drivers’ Federation. Mr Hunter was associated witi. the forming of branches of the Labour Party in Christchurch South, Cnristchurch East, Avon, Riccarton, and

> Lyttelton, and was a prime mover in ■ the forming of the central committee l which was the forerunner of the pre- • sent Representation Committee. I Mr Hunter was first criticised for ■ his letter to the “Press” in October of this year. The positior. came to a ■ head when he was invited to attend • a special meeting of the Riccarton • branch to discuss the position. After : three hours of heated discussion, an • amendment to refer the matter to a committee was lost, and > resolution 1 demanding an apology was passed, to ’ be sent on to the central committee. The following was the text of the ; resolution finally carried:—“That this branch is of the opinion that the ac--1 tions and statements of Mr Hiram : Hunter are detrimental to the general interest of the Labour movement :mcl

that he should be asked to apologise to the Labour Representation Commitlee for writing to the "Press” condemning the Labour counrillors, and to retrain from doing so in future, or resign from this branch.” REFUSAL TO RETRACT Mr Hunter wrote a report of the Riccarton meeting, winch he forwarded to the Labour Representation Committee, and in which lie stated that after the Riccarton resolution had been submitted to him, lie rep : ed: “I will no! retract one word of what I have written, and. further, wiP supplement those statements in the near future. If the Labour movement has to rely on individuals such as those who are supposed to be representing it on the municipal bodies at the present time had better wind up all its branches and leave the control of municipal affairs to the other side. I will do all in my power to bring about their defeat should they stand again. My rc-

I signation is available forthwith.” Both Inc Riccarton resolution and! Mr Hunter's comments on it were disj cussed by Ihe Labour Representation' Committee last night, and Mr Hunter I was afterwards informed verbally that he had been expelled from the party, j Mr Hunter said last night that in! his opinion the objection was mostly dTccted to the following passage in one of his letters to the “Press”:— “Most persons will agree thut it is unwise to load any man too heavily j with public positions, not only for his: own sake, but for the good of the movement. What chance is there for new aspirants to office when half a dozen monopolise all the positions secured by Labour, on every public body? Would it not be prudent to j bring out young men of ability; there I arc plenty of them available, if given 1 the opportunity, rather than to rely. upon trade union secretaries, of j mediocre ability, already overloaded with the secretarial work which falls j to their lot. I hope that the Labour 1 Representation Committee will select

! ;i team for the next municipal elecI lion which wilt embrace a major number of candidates not already tied ' up." | "The objection to that is mostly that it is true," Mr Hunter added.