THE LABOUR PARTY.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16284, 11 July 1917, Page 5

THE LABOUR PARTY.

■ «*- -. ME, McCOMBS'S RESIGNATION. The resignation of Mr McCombs Jrom the Labour Party (writes the, (Wellington correspondent of "The l*ress ; ') possesses more significance than appears on the surface, the indications pointing to a further split in..' the Labour ranks, with the Hon.- J. T. Paul and other prominent members following the lead of the Member for Lyttelton. j It is significant that the Hon. ,J. T. j Paul the other day refused to .'accept, the presidency or the Labour Party, and, furthermore, though advertised to speak, failed to take any part in the Labour rally held in the King's Theatre last night. It is freely slated that liquor trade people have been endeavouring to secure some measure of influence in the counsels of the Labour Party, and 5t is alleged that as the result of their Spfforts the Labour Congress, sitting in decided in favour of adding State control to the issues at the licensing poll. Hence the split that has occurred. Mr McCombs lias no intention of Resigning his seat liithe House, though he was elected under the auspices oi the Labour Party. He informed me to-day that he had neither signed the party's pledge nor handed in his written resignation to the Speaker of the Jlouse of Representatives before being sleeted, which in any case, he states, fr-ould be valueless, as a member can. ■ylways withdraw such a document at ?ny time. Mr McCombs has adhered, he says, to the pledges he gave to the electors 3it Lyttelton at the last election,, and if the. Labour Party chooses to amend ji plank in its platform to which, he Cannot subscribe, he is not bound in ionsequence to abide by such decision. I interviewed Mr E. J. Howard, of Christ-church, and other prominent members, on the subject. They were at first astounded at Mr McCoonibsJs resignation, and could hardly credit it.' However, they stated phUosophically, that the party would still go on, even without Mr McCombs, who they stated, was not strictly a member, but was a ;

j member of the allied Social Democratic Party. They admitted that he had not i signed his resignation as a. member of I the House, but they contended that he : was morally subje.t to the recall, and if he failed to resign he would "blast, himself for ever." A NEW PARTY TO BE FORMED. It is stated that the split in the Labour ranks will result in the .formation of a, new party, led by J\lr McCombs, who feels confident 'that the whole of the. Christchurch Labourites iwill flock to his standard, including Mr Howard. j; It is alleged that the liquor trade ' sent a delegation through New Zealand to try to influence the Labour people to oppose six o'clock closing of hotel bars; that they failed to move the Federation of Labour Conference or ' the industrial section of the Labourparty, but succeeded with the political section of the party, the plank liu, favour of adding Government control to the licensing issues being carried by a bare majority. As a result Mr M"Combs banded ..in his resignation, and it is, expected .that I other members will follow suit: I '~ | ■ ====== .