“A SILLY CANARD.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18201, 27 February 1929, Page 2

“A SILLY CANARD.”

ALLEGED SPLIT IN LABOUR PA RTY. AN EMPHATIC DENIAL. By Telegraph—Presa Asaocia tloa. WELLINGTON, February 26. The rumours circulated in a Christchurch newspaper, of a split in the Labour Party M-ere emphatically denied by high officials of tho movement in Wellington to-day. “There is not a tittle of truth in the statements; they are utter rubbish, just a silly canard, and someone’s imagination has been working overtime,” was the summing up of the secretary of the Parliamentary Labour Party (Mr P. Fraser). The allegation, as published, was that moderate members of the party, chafing under its leadership, were stated to be withdrawing from the Labour Party’s ranks, tho names connected with the supposed scheme being Messrs W. L. Martin (Raglan), W. J. Jordan (Manukau), F. Langstone (Waimarino), J. M. Munro (Dunedin North), and E. J. Howard (Christchurch South.) Mr Fraser, after making the declaration quoted above, went on to say that there M-ere no more leval members to the Party than those named and they had proved their loyalty by many years of service to Labour.

Mr H. E. Holland’s re-election to the' leadership of the Party, p or the life of the present Parliament, which took place during the recent brief session, had not only been unanimously, but enthusiastic, those present indulging in enlarging on his work for tho movement and the Party.

In endorsing tho statments made by Mr Fraser, tne secertary of the New Zealand Labour Party (Mr W. Nash), said that headquarters in Wellington Mould be the first to learn of any such dissension, and he had never hoard the slightest suggestion of it. Ho could not possibly dream of anything of the kind happening, as the members mentioned Mere in constant toucli with the national office, as late as yesterday. “What better evidence of repudiation can be given,” Mr' Nash added, “than the letter I have just received from Mr Jordan, intimating that he would be attending the National Conference.”