OLD MEN OF LABOUR FARTY

Chronicle (Levin), 20 June 1946, Page 8

OLD MEN OF LABOUR FARTY

. — Press Association

MR. FRASER INDIGNANT AT? OUSTING SUGGESTION

By Telearavh

WELLINGTON, June 19. Strong resentment at the suggestion yesterday that the Labour Party was considering rejecting some of its Parlia--mentary representatives because of age, was expressed by the Prime Minister at the Labour Conferenee this morning. "We have never heard of it and 1 believe we will never hear of it in our party," said Mr, Fraser, who added that the retirement of members on the ground of ill-health was an entirely dift'erent matter. An article in a- newspaper lieaded "Step to Oust Older Labour Men Taken at Party Gathering," was emphatieally contradicted by Mr. Fraser whose reniarks were repeatedly applauded. He said there had been some reference in the annual executive report to members of the Parlianientary Labour Party who might not be in good health but he had never heard discussed tlie question of old meiubers of the Party being( eonsidered for rejection. "A person who would make a suggestion of that kind is not fit to blacken the boots of older members of the Party — he is not (it to be in the Party at ail. I refuse to believe any member of the Party made it, " added Mr. Fraser. "It is not a question of age but of the strenuous life of Parliament and the toll it takes on health. That life has worn down some of our greatest figures. ' ' M r. Fraser referred to the late Mr. H. Savage, saying they were mentally briiE. Holland and the late Mr. M. 'J. liaiit right up to the end of tlieir lives. At his last Gabinet mecting Mr. Savage had as clear a brain as ever and was still a great leader. Mr. Fraser said bolh men had been victims of overworK aml not age. "I, as leader of the Labour Party, never considered the age of my eoli ll'ugucs. Mr. Semple is more vigorous I aml vouthful today than he has ever j been in his life. (Applause). He formuj lated a poliey that eaught the imaginjation of practieally everybody in the I country who will try to indulge in the I sineerest form of flattery — imitation. It would be a scandalous tliing, alieu to 1 the Labour movement and opposed to i its idealism and spirit, if we were to i sav that some person who has given 1ns | uiiole life to Ihe movement and helped | lav the foundation.s of its suceess, could ! be thrown aside solely because of age. 1 I would never be a party to that. | Never! ' ' ! On the other liand Mr. Fraser said it | was the duty of Party members, includ- [ ing himself, if they felt they were not j lit to carry on the strenuous life of a ! Menil)er of Parliainent and had medicat | advire to that elfect, to accept sueii advice and help Ihe Partv in some other way. In any case, Mr. Fraser pointed ont, local organisations oi' the Party I and the. jiational executive had the duty | of selecting candidates and old and I young niembers had an equal opportim1 ity of being selected.