A LABOUR SQUABBLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 11

A LABOUR SQUABBLE.

DUNEDIN WEST SEAT. REJECTION BY THE PARTY. j COURAGE OF HIS CONVICTIONS [B V TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPON PENT, j DU X EDI N. Monday ,The rejection by the Labour Party of Mr. (M. Moss as its candidate for the | Dunedin West seat in opposition to the | Hon. \V. iX'Wtiie Stewart has been brought about by Mr. Moss' attitude to j two of tho planks in the Labour Party's platform. Mr. Moss has stated his position on these planks before tho election takes place, and the party has apparently decided that, as he will not obey his party's, whip now, it could not blame him if. given tho chance, ho refused to obey it if he were elected. Mr. Moss has put himself "on side." His party says he is well "off-side" and consequently it will not now accept him as its nominee. The two points on which Mr. Moss is at variance with his party relate to the abolition of the right ot inheritance of land and the question of defence. Last June Mr. Moss became involved in a newspaper correspondence and he then said: "It must be obvious that land, property, etc., cannot under the Labour Party's policy be willed in such a manner as at present." Mr. Holland, the Leader of tho labour Party, denied that this was so and said that Mr. Moss had mis-stated the position. Speaking at Cofcden last week Mr. Holland said that his party's policy '"would not prevent the present farmers from selling their farms, nor tho workmen from selling their cottages, but the transfers would have to be made through the Land Transfer Department." This is an incomplete statement, because it does not make it clear that the farmers and workmen would have to sell to the State, and to sell to it only, at a valuation, and misleading because it conveys the impression that the Labour Party would permit a market for the sale of land. But Mr. Moss has become independent in his views and he must therefore be disciplined. Then, again, as regards the defence question Mr. Moss stands for a system of national volunteer defence and his attitude on this question meets with little favour in certain Labour quarters. The Labour Party will place its views on the difference which has arisen between itself and Mr. Moss before the public in due course and Mr. Moss will then state his position and publish some interesting correspondence. Above and beyond all Mr. Moss' alleged delinquencies contained in the foregoing is his attitude at the conference of the Labour Party held in Dunedin last Thursday. Mr. Moss was plainly asked by Mr. W. Nash, national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, if lie would subscribe to any decisions come to by the Labour Party. Mr. Moss as plainly replied that he would not until lie knew what the decisions were. So exit Mr. Moss. NATIONALIST SPEAKS. CANDIDATE FOR WAITOMO. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] TE KUITI. Monday. Mr. W. .T. Broadfoot. the National Party's candidate for Waitotno, opened bis campaign at Oparure to-day. He spoke on immigration, land settlement, roads and the tourist traffic as the most vital matters for the Dominion's prosperitv. He said the city car owner shoufd pay a heavier tax for road maintenance. 'Fertilisers, being the life blood of the country, should be procurable at cheaper rates. The speaker received a vote of confidence. THE THAMES ELECTORATE. FOUR CANDIDATES IN FIELD. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] THAMES. Monday. With four candidates definitely in the field interest in the election in the Thames district is awakening. Mr. W. Willy, a Turua farmer, who supports the party led by Mr. Forbes, commenced his candidature a fortnight ago, as did Mr. A. J. Whiteside, who stands as an Independent with leanings to Labour. Mr. A. A. Ross, representing the Country Party, gives his first address at Thames to-night, and the sitting member, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, who has represented Thames in many Parliaments, will open his 1925 election campaign at Kopuarahi on Thursday afternoon. Present indications are that all the candidates will go to the poll.