LABOUR UNITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23661, 19 November 1938, Page 14

LABOUR UNITY

AN ALLEGED BREACH INVERCARGILL BY-ELECTION NATIONAL ACTION LIKELY (Pee United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. The decision 'of a prominent trade union secretary to stand .against the official Labour candidate in a recent local body by-election has given rise to comment in Wellington trade union circles as to the outcome, such action being stated to constitute a breach of the accepted principles laid down by all Labour representation committees. The by-election was that held in Invercargill this week to fill a vacancy on the City Council. The Invercargill Labour Representation Committee selected Mr R. T. Parsons, its president, as its official candidate. In spite of this decision. Mr D W. Stalker, a trade union secretary, who represents Southland as a member of the National Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, stood as an Independent, contrary, it is stated, to the express wishes of the L.R.C. and the Labour movement in Invercargill, his slogan being " a free hand and an open mind." Mr Parsons topped the poll, securing a narrow victory over the next candidate in the four-cornered contest Mr Stalker was bottom of the poll. It is stated that the matter will come up for discussion at next week's meeting of the New Zealand Federation of Labour in Wellington. The local opinion is that Mr Stalker will have no alternative but to withdraw from his association with the Labour movement.