OUTSIDE “ PULL.”

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16815, 5 June 1926, Page 10

OUTSIDE “ PULL.”

* ■ LABOUR ALDERMEN CRITICISED. COUNCIL APPOINTMENT. A charge of sacrificing principle for opportunism was preferred against the Labour benches in the Sydney CityCouncil by Aid. Milner Stephen in regard to llie appointment for the i electrical goods retail trading dcj partment to be established. One of the councils’ officers, Mr W. Riley, present superintendent for electricity accounts, had been recommended for the post, and the recommendation was endorsed by the clec- ! tricity supply committee, hut Aid. , Clapliam moved an amendment Unit the post lie again advertised, in and out- ; side of tlie department. lie saiil lie i thought Die men in the service were | hardly sufficiently experienced commercially, and the undertaking, with its great potentialities, required a competent man to cope with its growth. I Aid. Stephen said that this was a most remarkable volte face ,on the enunciated principles of the Labour Party. it seemed hut another illustration of the fact that if I lie Labour Party said they were governed by certain principles they were always liable to scrap them if there was “pull” in some direction that happened lo suit an alderman cr the parly. “it is itn-

j possible for me lo assume that the i parly is unanimous in this,” said Aid. : Stephen. “it is an absurd travesty of principle. Though it is a small matter, it indicates the way the Labour Party —though I hope Aid. Clapliam is on ! his own—-are ready to scrap principle ! for opportunism. We have our offi- | ccrs recommending Mr Riley, i charge I the mover of this amendment, with ! having done something for which he ! should he ashamed.” Aid. Marks (Reform) declared that “there was something funny about lliis amendment." Aid. English (Labour) declared that lie for one would like to see the job go lo a man in tlio department, but live task was one requiring outside commercial training and a knowledge of invoicing, which a man in Ihe de- ! partment could not claim. lie was i perfectly sure that Reform aldermen wanted such a man put in charge, i Aid. .Jackson said that Riley must : have fallen foul of the La ouPrbatry liuve fallen foul of the Labour Party. The mover of the amendment did not j want a belter man; lie wanted another man. ”1 believe I hat man is already i picked,” lie declared. on a division, a block Labour vole ' carried the amendment.