PARTY RESIGNATION

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

PARTY RESIGNATION

HON. W. E. BARNARD’S ATTITUDE STILL M.P. AND SPEAKER (By Telegraph.—Press Association) NAPIER, Monday The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, stated in answer to a question that his resignation from the Labour Party does not affect either his tenure of the Napier seat or his Speakership. “I was elected as Speaker by the House for the term of Parliament’s life,” he said. In a further statement Mr Barnard said: “Dr. D. G. McMillgn, M.P., is correct when he states that the report of the votes recorded at caucus for the leadership of the Parliamentary Labour Party was not correct. The actual voting was as follows:—Carr 3, Fraser 33, McMillan 12. These results were announced by the chairman (the Hon. P. Fraser) who, I am sure, will confirm the true position. The minutes of caucus will do the same.” MR J. O’BRIEN’S REGRET PLACE IS INSIDE PARTY (By Telegraph.—Press Association) GREYMOUTH, Monday Invited to comment on Mr Barnard’s resignation, Mr J. O’Brien, Member for Westland, said: “I definitely do not agree with his attitude, and regret very much the step he has taken. If there is anything in the Labour Party Mr Barnard considers should be rectified his place is in the party, not outside it.”