LABOUR PARTY DIFFERENCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 94, 23 April 1940, Page 2

LABOUR PARTY DIFFERENCES

BRANCH MEETINGS TL'RAKINA AND MARTON MARTON, April 22. There was a large attendance at the Marton branch meeting to hear the delegate’s report on the deliberations of the Easter Conference. Mr. Haddock presided and after opening the meeting, which was the first held since the decease of Premier Savage, the chairman paid a tribute to the past leader and members stood in silence for a minute as a mark of respect. After general business was transacted, the chairman referred to recent events following the Easter Conference. He expressed the opinion that the action taken to expel one Parliamentary member was fully justified and also that in his opinion other M.P.’s who had been associated with Mr. J. A. Lee in the Left Wing group should be disciplined. It had been stated that there were supporters of the Left Wing among the local membership and if that were so lie wanted them to declare themselves loyal to the Government Party or get out. During a discussion it was stated by a member that the secretary was a supporter of the Left Wing and that the opinion was prevalent among some of the local membership that he, as delegate, had supported the Left Wing at the conference. The meeting carried two resolutions (as reported further).

The branch delegate reported fully on the discussions and decisions of conference. His view was that the emotional atmosphere which had pervaded conference during its short sitting prevented many attending from forming rational opinions, and logical conclusions relevant to the situation. The background to the inter-party differences which had arisen within the Parliamentary group, and the real issues underlying the apparent controversies were related to questions of principles embodied in the party's objective, and its platform as formulated and adopted in past decisions. These principles were based upon theoretical concepts and the real difficulty arose when attempts were being made to translate theory into practical administrative action under existing circumstances. Departures from constitutional procedure raised problems of great difficulty and these could not be overcome without serious consequences to established customs. The difficulty was that party members at large were not conversant with the background to the difficulties which had arisen, and the recent Press statements issued by party personalities had accentuated this difficulty, and the reactions now emerging are the subject of much speculation among members of the party. It is known that differences and divergencies have been common features of all political parties in this country and elsewhere, and it seems that we are subject to them, and possibly could not escape them. Human characteristics of ambition, desire and perversity were most troublesome and difficult to reconcile.

The personal conflict between J. A. Lee and the late leader which culminated in a press attack with articles on "To-morrow” containing in references and innuendoes casting doubts upon the Prime Minister’s mental capacity were of such a nature that disciplinary action by expulsion had to be enforced and as branch delegate the secretary had no hesitation in supporting this action. He thought, however, that the associator of Dr. McMillan with this matter was unfortunate, as Dr. McMillan had made a clear statement repudiating such association to the conference and he pointed out that following the adoption of the motion for expulsion of J. A. Lee the same delegates elected Dr. McMillan vice-presi-dent of the party with an overwhelming margin of votes over the other candidates for that office. The delegates pointed out also that among the 40 remits on the conference agenda there were several which covered the various matters that were in dispute and had conference been able to continue and resolve its attitude to these questions it was probable that such resolutions would have had a steadying effect and encouraged general reconciliation and an avoidance of the reactions which have since taken place. Similar resolutions to the above were before the Turakina branch meeting on Saturday and were unanimously adopted. The Resolutions. The Marton branch resolved: "That this meeting of members of the Marton branch extends to the Hon. P. Fraser their congratulations on his elevation to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party That we record our satisfaction to Mr. Fraser’s representation of New Zealand during his visit overseas and consultations with the Home Government in regard to the cooperation of the Dominion with Great Britain in the Allied war effort, and we pledge our fullest support to the Government in its defence administration.

The following resolution was also carried: “That this meeting expresses its condemnation of that section commonly known as the Left Wing in their actions against the Government, and expresses its confidence in Mr. Fraser as Prime Minister, and commends the branches for having censored members for their disloyalty to the Labour Party. We suggest-that other electorates which the disloyalists represent should adopt the same attitude.