A DENIAL

Southland Times, Issue 19897, 16 June 1926, Page 5

A DENIAL

AUSTRALIAN LABOUR PARTY. EXPULSION TALK A RUMOUR. Melbourne, June 15. Officials of the Australian Labour Party emphatically deny that there is any truth in the statements published in Sydney to the effect that the Federal Executive of the Party would probably expel Mr Charlton and other leaders from the Party for the stand they have taken in regard to the proposed referendum on an alteration of the Federal constitution.—A. & N.Z. A cable received yesterday stated:—A Labour split is threatened over Mr Bruce’s referendum proposals recently introduced in the Federal Parliament. The attitude of Mr Charlton (Leader of the Federal Labour Party) and a number of his followers, who, in view of concessions to which Mr Bruce had acceded, agreed to support the proposals, is strongly resented by many Labourites. The Australian Workers’ Union, which is the strongest union in the Commonwealth, has definitely decided to oppose the referendum, and the Australian Labour Party’s Executive has called a meeting for Friday, at which Mr Charlton and probably some other prominent followers will be asked to explain their attitude. Important developments are anticipated, and there is talk of possible expulsions. It is claimed in some quarters that Mr Charlton and one or two of the leaders of the Federal Labour Party have got out of touch with the Labour movement. —A. & N.Z.