AVON ELECTORATE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16435, 31 January 1919, Page 7

AVON ELECTORATE.

BRANCH OF LABOUR PART? FORMED. HON. G. W. RUSSELL CRITICISED. A meeting called to form a branch >f the New Zealand Labour J*T* ™ ;ho Avon electorate tras held in <Uo BoHesUm street HalL last nigat, Mri. 11. Cooke priding over an >f thirteen, which included two ladu*. The chairman said that it was un«,rtot that the .arty should iontest every eiecU>ra« - d doctorate was one tnej wv-r© ,ure to win a, the «** ,u£ig candidate iuul, w> gariy. so dirtied his wl»«™J J^ Aiwr his language to.tno f^ Auckland iu b ucix a crisis and inJW* of suck a death rato, uue wiio was attowpung to do wmc Loing, ho (me did not Uunj -..no electorate woula stand him J*A"» .New Zealand, he added, wouid £* *£« reflex action of the gouigon aIL over the world, the contest the moderate Socialists and twe fiutont Sociahste. At the conclusion of marks the chairman asked ii in- dosirod the proceedings to opea to lt h «i T relolved that the Pre* be *- lO l, d $™n moved :-"That this meting -resolves to f-m a branch of the Nc-w Zealand labour Party in go meetns was an exhibition of. againsTtho present member. In^fonneKi^d«^||^ Whilo recognising that popularity had suffered »n««g «" ceiitly they must not take their antSoiust Slightly; he was an exc-eed-inclv clover political antagonist. It the Labour Party intended winning.the> seat that'ho would have to face the elecU)is, Ld taking steps to ensure a certain aTnount of popularity .in hie position asii member of the Cabinet he had 001taih rowers which enabled him to do certain things which, m a way, would be of assistance to him. ■The motion was seconded. Mr li> J WorrnH said that ho would like to have an expression of opinion from those in the audience not connected with the trades union movement. Mr llussell was a master of electoral tactics, and as one representing the interests of capital, lie would have an unlimited supply of that commodity. A member of the audience suggested that the platform of the Labour Party should be submitted so that outsider like himself would know what they were asked to support. The chairman produced a printed copy of the Party's platform, and saici it could be read if necessary-. Mr R. D. Martin said that Mr Russell's administration of his departmeni during the recent epidemic ought tt condemn him in the eyes of the whole electorate. He did not know on whose shoulders more blame rested than 01 those of the Minister of Public Health For the five thousand deaths that th< Government recognised—probably there was a thousand more—and for th< spread of the epidemic, the man wht wae largely responsible was the Minis ter of Public Health. He defied the suggestion of tho Chie Health Officer at Auckland respecting the Niagara, and over-rode him. Al most all sections of the community from one - pnd of New Zealand to thi otiior, wcJe soetliiiift with discontent and Labour had one of the grandest op pctrtuumes it nad ever had, and h< hoped it would rise to the occasion. The motion was unanimously agreei

to. ' The chairman suggested that in view of the small attendance^—due to the weather, ho said, rather than to lack of interest—the Labour Representation Committee might take charge of the Branch for the present, unless tho meeting decided to appoint a temporary president and seoretary. It was agreed to proceed with the election of temporary officers. Muoh difficulty was experienced in getting any of those present to accept nomination as president. Ultimately Mr C. Renn accepted nomination and was elected. Mr T. C. Tyson was elected secretary pro tern. It was decided to hold another meeting next week to elect officers.