WHY MR. LEE WAS EXPELLED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 85, 12 April 1940, Page 6

WHY MR. LEE WAS EXPELLED

ATTACK ON LEADER

NOT BECAUSE OF VIEWS EXPRESSED

REPLY TO GREY LYNN BRANCH WITHDRAWAL

[ Ter Pres Association.) AUCKLAND, April 11. In an interview this morning, Mr. i M. Moohan, national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, said that the statements made by delegates at a meeting of the Grey Lynn branch of the New Zealand Labour Party last evening, when it was decided to support of Mr. J. A. Lee. distorted the actual happenings at the New Zealand Labour Party's conference at Wellington at Easter. "Mr. Lee was expelled from the party because of his public attacks’on the competency of the late leader. Mr. Savage," said Mr. Moohan. "Mr. Lee was severely censured for his public attacks on members of the Government at the 1939 annual conference. and was again censured by the national executive in January. I 1940. for further attacks upon the 1 late Prime Minister. At that exeeuI five meeting Mr. Lee, in addition to agreeing to publicly and personally apologise to the late Prime Minister. | gave his solemn assurance to abide by all party decisions. "Just prior to the last annual con- j ference Mr. Lee again defied the national executive and the whole circumstances. together with Mr. Savage's report, were placed before the conference for consideration," continued Mr. Moohan. “After a debate lasting between five and six hours, in which every aspect was considered and Mr. Lee given every opportunity to state his case, the conference decided. by a majority of 202 votes, that Mr. Lee was no longer fit to be a member of the Labour Party. Mr. Lee was not expelled because of any particular opinions he may have held, but because he deliberately set out to try to destroy, as a political force, New Zealand's greatest statesman, the late Mr. Savage, who stated, in his report to the conference, that his life, for two years, had been made a living hell through Mr. Lee's tactics. It is important to note that the official report of the conference is not yet to hand, and the discussion at the branch meeting was made without a full knowledge of the facts, said Mr. Moohan. There can be no doubt that when the Grey Lynn party members are fully acquainted with the true situation there will be no question about their loyalty to the party. Apparently. the branch secretary did not disclose to the meeting the fact that he had that day received a letter from the national office informing him that a meeting of branch mem- ■ bers would be called at an early date to enable the national executive members to state the case on behalf of the party. If some Grey Lynn members are going into voluntary political exile out of loyalty to Mr. Lee. surely j such action should be taken with a full Knowledge of the facts, and not based upon a report from persons prejudiced in favour of Mr. Lee. 'To remove any misunderstanding, concluded Mr. Moohan. "the actual resolution passed by the conference was as follows: — "That John A. Lee. M.P. for Grey Lynn, having been guilty of j conduct and acts inconsistent with i bis position as a member of this 1 party, this conference, in the in- | terests of the Labour movement, I hereby expels him from the New Zealand Labour Party.” AUCKLAND LABOUR MEETING HELD A STATEMENT MADE L Per T , Afcoociatiun. I AUCKLAND, A; ill IL The withdrawal of the Grey Lynn branch from the Labour Party on account of the expulsion of Mr. J. A. Lee, t/as discussed at a meeting of the : Au< kland Labour Representation Com- ' mittee to-night, and it wu suose- j ~ t by the national secretary of the pally. Mi. M. Moohan,’ who was present at the meeting, that I the executive had appointed a former I vice-president, Mr. T. Jackson, to be > president, and Mr. F. Hackett to be ■ secretary pro tern of tne brant n. ; A meeting of members w/iu are pre- i paied to abide loyally by party | decisions will be called immediately i under the auspices of the representation committee to elect officers for the ensuing year.