LABOUR AND THE THRONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 9

LABOUR AND THE THRONE.

PALACE DINNER POTHER,

VIGOROUS REPLY TO CRITICS.

CONSTITUTIONAL POLICY.

By TelesrftDh—Press Association— Copyright A. and N.Z. DONDON, March 19. There is considerable criticism in Lai our circles of the Labour leaders' action in accepting tho King's invitation to Buckingham Palace. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., in a vigorous reply at Liverpool, said that the controversy was receiving unnecessary attention. On the constitutional side he believed that if the Labour Party came into power to-morrow it would find the King prepared to accept their advice as readily as that of the Liberal Party. "We therefore must accept and appreciate such constitutional action. If Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, as Leader of the Opposition, had been ignored that would have meant that Labour was deliberately flouted, and the present critics would certainly have accused the King of bias against the Labour Party. The Labour Party has never declared itself in favour of a republican constitution. If that course were ever adopted, after the pros and cons had been considered, those who make the present complaint would be justified in their comments, but not until after the issue had been determined. "The personal, as opposed to the con- I stitutional, issue is even more mean and dangerous. It presupposes that we will neither associate with nor include among our friends any who are wealthy or differ from us politically. If the embargo is to apply to all who are nob among the socalled workers it will mean ignoring many whose brains and sacrifice are a great ■ asset to the Labour Party. Thus many general managers are close friends of ours. Are we to toll them that the Labour Party is going to treat them as lepers? The whole thing is absurd and ridiculous. Such policy can only lead to class antagonism, which would be disastrous to the country."