THE LABOUR PARTY.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 30938, 23 July 1917, Page 2

THE LABOUR PARTY.

ME McCOMBS'S POSITION. ' WELLINGTON, July 20, In the course of- a long letter to Mr J. Glover, honorary secretary of .Jhe New Zealand Labour Party, Mr J, McOombs, M.P,, sets forlh his reason for resigning from that organisation when it added to its platform a (plank in, favour of submitting Hie question of State control of the liquor trade to the people at the licensing poll, • He is convinced, lie says', that the Labour Party will'make a fatal blunder by taking the initiative in this matter.- ".One should no more compromise with .alcoholism," he says, "than with the pest of cholera. In conclusion, J wish to. state,that my position is the same as thafsiatod at the conference: that I would have to work for the Labour movement outside an organisation which was lending itself to the furtherance of State control. On matters of policy and on'questions of expediency I am willing to bow to the decision of the majority, as witness my,attitude-, in the recent municipal contest, but on questions of principle I claim the right of individual judgment. My political pledges, which I made to' my constituent;, have in no way been ..violated, and no party has the right to demand that I shall acquiesce in. a,change of programme after I am elected. ,-• Of course I know that this position would not be challenged by. .the S.D.P., under whose auspices I was elected." .i