PUBLISHED REPORT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 9

PUBLISHED REPORT

DR. D. G. McMILLAN COMPLAINS EASTER CONFERENCE DEBATE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) DUNEDIN, Sunday Strong dissatisfaction with the procedure adopted of authorising the publication of portions of the discussion on Mr Lee’s expulsion at the recent Labour conference at Wellington was expressed in an interview tonight by Dr. D. G. McMillan, M.P., vice-president of the party. Dr. McMillan also alleged that the figures published in the press of the voting at the caucus of the Parliamentary party at which Mr Fraser was elected leader were not correct. Dr. McMillan said that, although .it was expected that Mr Lee would be censured, his expulsion from the party had come as a surprise to many m-jmbers. Asked to reconcile Mr Lee’s expulsion with his own election as vice-president he said that it indicated that the conference favoured majority rule but objected to the methods Mr Lee had adopted. “Most delegates were shocked at the publication in the party’s official organ, the Standard, and in the daily press of excerpts of the discussion,” Dr. McMillan said. “The discussion took place in committee, with the galleries cleared of party members. Most delegates regarded this procedure as being in the best interests of the party, and accordingly were astounded when they read selected reports in the press. “I understand that the Hon. D. Wilson. M.L.C., on behalf of the press committee, approved of the publication,” Dr. McMillan added. “This is

doubly unfortunate, because some of Mr Wilson’s remarks, which have been published in full, are not in accord with fact. Some are only half correct, and some were expressed in unfortunate language.” Referring to the election of the leader, Dr. McMillan said his only comment was that the voting figures published in the press were not the correct ones. He added, however, that as the elected leader Mr Fraser would receive the entire support of every member of the Labour Party.