LAST REPORT BY MR SAVAGE

Southland Times, Issue 24115, 2 May 1940, Page 6

LAST REPORT BY MR SAVAGE

DISUNITY IN LABOUR RANKS REFERENCE TO MR LEE’S ATTACKS A photostatic copy of the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage’s confidential report to the annual conference of the New Zealand Labour Party appears in The Standard, the Labour newspaper. It was written on both sides of a card-board-backed envelope and as far as it can be deciphered reads as follows: “I regret to say that since last conference internal conditions have not improved. For about two years, my life has been a living hell. For the past 12 months, in spite of last conference decision, I have been attacked through the public Press with all the venom and lying innuendo of the political sewer. To the credit of the dailies, I must say they have never at any time reached the depths plumbed by one Labour member and one or two communist or semi-communist productions. I regret to say that one of these receives a lot of encouragement from members elected to support the Government. “I have been referred to by Mr Lee, within the hearing of others, as ‘the silly old up on the hill; the pathological case.’ All one need do is to read Tomorrow to understand the desperate attempts Mr Lee has made, largely during my illness, to destroy me as a political force. Was that the action of a loyal supporter of Labour? No member can be loyal to the Government and attack the leader at the same time. In the ordinary course of events, he will be elected next year—election year. WORTHLESS DECISIONS “The last caucus that I attended made it plain to me that conference decisions were not worth the paper they were written upon. Definite attempts were made by a few members to have their own way. What is the position of a Labour Prime Minister? Is he expected to go to the people and make promises in the name of Labour and, before the life of parliament for which he has been elected has been half exhausted, allow himself to be set aside by a few conspirators within his own ranks? Or is he entitled to await the challenge of pledge-breakers and place-hunters on the floor of the House and if he is to be defeated, to go down in full view of the people; then to exercise his prerogative undei’ the constitution, to seek an immediate dissolution of Parliament so that the people may again be consulted.

“Unless the latter course is followed there can be no stability for a Labour Government and the charge frequently made by our opponents—that we could not pledge ourselves for three years—would be proved to be correct. I hope conference will not expect me to act in that way. What applies to me applies to all Ministers and Labour supporters/’