“THIS SOULLESS ACTION”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 January 1940, Page 6

“THIS SOULLESS ACTION”

AND STUPID INCONSISTENCY COULD SCARCELY HAVE BEEN CARRIED FURTHER PRIME MINISTER’S STRONG COMMENT ON AUCKLAND MEETING’S ACTION [United Press Association] WELLINGTON, This Day. Commenting on the resolution passed at the meeting of the Auckland Labour Representation Committee which was addressed by Mr J. A. Lee M.P., the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, said: “I have been a victim of one of the most dastardly attacks that has ever been made upon a public man in this country. A section of the movement in which I have spent the greater part of my life with, without hearing me, endorsed that attack and expressed confidence in its author as well as in its victim. This stupid inconsistency and soulless action could scarcely have been carried further and 1 shall see that it is not left at that.” Mr Savage is presiding at a meeting of Cabinet to-day for the first time since his operation. A message from Auckland this morning stated that after hearing Mr J. A. Lee. M.P., and a number of other speakers, the meeting of the Auckland Labour Reprsentation Committee which was called to consider Mr Lee’s recent article in a Christchurch magazine discussing the invalidism of political leaders rejected a motion objecting to the article in strong terms and recommending that the matter be referred to the National Executive of the Labour Party. By 109 votes to 85 the meeting adopted an amendment upholding Mr Lee’s action and expressing complete confidence in him and in the Prime Minister.