AN EXPLANATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20099, 4 May 1935, Page 18

AN EXPLANATION

MR PATERSON AND LABOUR CHANCES COMPARED When question time came after Mi A. M. Paterson, a candidate for the Mayoralty, had addressed a gathering near the Grown Hotel co mer last night, he was asked for his reasons why, as a member of the Labour Party, he was standing against Mr G. T. Koller, the official Labour Party candidate. The subject was introduced by Mr E. Fitzgerald, who asked: Are you a member of the Labour Party? Mr Paterson: Yes. Mr Fitzgerald: Well, why are you standing against the official condidate of the Labour Party? Mr Paterson explained that the reason he had entered the field was that he had been assured on reliable authority that Mr Benstead, one of the other candidates, had retired. On Easter Monday he interviewed Mr Koller with a view to getting him to retire and make the contest a straight out one between the retiiing Mayor and the speaker. He did not believe that Mr Koller stood a possible chance of winning, and as he (the speaker) had out-voted the retiring Mayor at the last election, he considered that he had a far greater chance than Mr Koller. Mr Fitzgerald said that Mr Paterson had the same chance as Mr Koller of receiving the Labour ticket. He received notice of the meeting of the Timaru branch of the Party to discuss the municipal elections and could have allowed his name to go forward to the ballot along with Mr Koller’s. He did not think that Mr Paterson had acted fairly in the matter. Mr Paterson replied that he had been perfectly fair. Some time ago he had asked Mr Koller if he had any intention of standing as a Mayoral candidate, Mr Koller’s reply being that he had left instructions that the Party could nominate him for any position from the Mayoralty down. Knowing that, he took no further action in offering himself for the position. Mr Fitzgerald: Will you tell the meeting why you resigned from the Council and let the ratepayers down? Mr Paterson explained his reasons for resigning on similar lines to previous addresses, and held that he did only w r hat any self-respecting man would do after suffering so many rebuffs. Mr R. Laplanche: Was Mr Paterson asked by the Labour Party to stand? Mr Fitzgerald: He has already answered that. Mr Laplanche inquired if Mr Paterson had been asked by any union or labour organisation to offer his services. Mr Paterson replied in the negative. Mr Laplanche said that every labour organisation was affiliated with the Party. Why did not Mr Paterson get one of those unions to nominate him? Mr Paterson: Mr Koller had already been nominated. Mr Laplanche: You arc coming in against the official candidate. Mr Paterson: I will tell you why. Mr Fitzgerald: Because you were disqualified by the Labour Party. An Independent. Mr Paterson: “I am standing as an independent.” He knew that Mr Koller had no chance, and thought that he had a good chance of success. Mr Fitzgerald: Have you received a wire expressing the best wishes of the Party for success? Mr Paterson explained that the telegram Mr Koller had received was one similar to that received from the Party by all candidates for municipal elections. As he was not an official candidate, the speaker did not receive one. Mr Laplanche: What would be your position if you wanted to stand for the Mayoralty or for the general election in the interests of the Labour Party? Mr Paterson replied that it would depend on the views of the National Council of the Labour Party on his present action. It would depend on the seriousness of the offence. Mr Laplanche said he thought that the decision would rest with the local branch of the Party and not the National Executive. He asked the candidate what his action would be, if. when returned, he found that the Council was against him. Would he resign as he did last time? Mr Paterson said that on the last occasion the Council was not against him. It was the Mayor who had caused his decision to resign. Mr Laplanche: Well, what would you do if you found the Council against you? Mr Paterson replied that if, as Mayor, he found the whole of the Council against him he would consider it his duty to resign. A voice: We want a new Mayor and Council. This town is asleep for nine months of the year. (Laughter.) Several questions were put to Mr Paterson from different parts, and one voice asking about Mr Paterson’s attitude in regard to the men employed on the Scenic Reserve could be heard amongst others. Mr Laplanche: Yes. what do you think about the Scenic Reserve job? The first questioner: You sit down Mr Laplanche. I am asking this question. Mr Paterson explained that if it was at all possible he would urge that the Council pay standard rates of wages on an undertaking of the kind. Questioned further by Mr Fitzgerald regarding his attitude towards the Labour Party by contesting the

election against the official candidate, Mr Paterson said that he stood in the interests of the great Labour movement, which was more important than a small group. Mr Fitzgerald: I am sorry you brought that in. Mr Paterson: My friend has been asking for it all the evening, and now he has got it. Mr Fitzgerald: I am pleased. It shows how staunch you are. Mr Paterson said that he had made a distinction between the Labour T’arty and the Labour movement. The -.abour Party was controlled by a few, but it was the movement he was standing for and not a small group. He was still a member of the Labour Party. Mr Laplanche: Which branch, Timaru or Washdyke? Mr Fitzgerald: What are you a member of? Mr Paterson: The Timaru branch. Mr Fitzgerald: Will you tell the audience that? Mr Paterson: I-am a member of the Timaru branch until I am expelled. A voice: Are Mr Koller and his party members of that siriall group? Mr Paterson: I believe they are. Questioned further by a member of the audience, Mr Paterson repeated that he was a member of the Labour Party, but he had left it temporarily to get behind the Labour movement. Mr Fitzgerald: You have left it ‘ forever. A member of the audience said that i the Rev. Clyde Carr had said that Mr Koller and his fellow candidates in i the field were representatives of the official party. Mr Paterson replied that he had reasoned that Mr Koller was a certain loser and he was a probable winner. That was why he had decided to contest the seat. He emphasised that he had done a great deal for the Labour movement, and it had no more enthusiastic supporter. Any sensible person would realise that what he had done was in the best interests of the movement.