LABOUR'S LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21893, 31 August 1934, Page 13

LABOUR'S LEADER

CONFIDENCE OF PARTY DENIAL OF DISSENSION " A CIRCUMSTATIAL STORY" [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thursday Because the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, dined alone last evening while a caucus of the Labour Party was proceeding, currency has been given to a suggestion that there is dissension in the party and tiiat the purpose of the gathering was to "try" him on the ground that his leadership was unsatisfactory. The suggestion can be given an unqualified denial. The facts are that the Labour Party held a caucus to discuss the Budget on Tuesday evening. As several members were absent, it was decided to hold another meeting last evening to discuss various points 011 which the former absentees desired to express their views. • Mr. Savage was due to open the Budget debate in the House at 7..30 p.m., and therefore he attended the meeting for only a short time. As the caucus lasted until nearly 7 p.m., Mr. Savage perforce had to dine without the com piny of any party colleagues, and later he spent some time refreshing liis mind on points he intended to make in the Budget debate. "That is always my habit," said Mr. Savage to-night. "]f J have to make an important speech in the House or from the public platform, I do not allow myself to become preoccupied immediately before with other questions. It was not until to-day that ] heard a circumstantial story that I was on trial by my party, and on inquiry I find that during the whole of my absence from the caucus my name was not once mentioned. It looks like a case of the wish being father to the thought on the part of those responsible for the circulation of the story."