PRESIDENT RESIGNS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26770, 13 May 1948, Page 7

PRESIDENT RESIGNS

FINSBURY LABOUR PARTY PROTEST AGAINST EXPULSION OF MR PLATTS-MILLS N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, May 12. The president of the Finsbury branch of the Labour Party, Mr M. Cliffe, has resigned as a protest against the expulsion from the party of the member for Finsbury, Mr J. F. F. PlattsMills. Mr Cliffe said he was entirely in agreement with the action of the 27 members of the Finsbury Trades Council who wrote to Mr Platts-Mills expressing their regret at his expulsion and pledging themselves to work for his reinstatement. “I am amazed that our member should have been expelled from the party without being given previous warning and without reference to the Finsbury executive” said Mr Cliffe.

“My feelings about the Government’s foreign policy are well known and I have continually expressed the view that what is being done does not represent the declared policy of the Labour Party. In view of the strong feelings I have about these matters, I And it necessary to tender my resignation as president of the Finsbury Labour Party, but as an ordinary lay member I intend to continue to fight for a change in our Government’s foreign policy.” The Opposition has agreed to postpone the debate arranged for to-mor-row on the Conservative motion for a select committee to inquire into the methods by which the signatures were obtained to the Nenni telegram. This has been done to enable Mr Platts-Mills to state his case He had previously arranged a public meeting in his constituency for to-morrow evening. The debate on the Opposition motion will now take place after the Whitsun recess.