MAY COME TO HEAD

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20128, 23 December 1939, Page 7

MAY COME TO HEAD

DISRUPTION TALK FACTIONS OF LABOUR "SACKING” OF MR. LEE CABINET CONSTITUTION LEFT WINGERS’ CLAIMS , (Special to the Herald.) ' WELLINGTON, this day. The enforced retirement of Mr. J. A. Lee from the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance, is likely to precipitate developments within the Labour Party which have been threatening internal disruption for several years. Party discipline and loyalty is, however, so thorough that little may leak out regarding the internal quarrels which have been causing anxiety. There are issues not mentioned in the brief official explanation of the special Gazette notice affecting Mr. Lee. The constitution of the Cabinet itself is involved, and it is likely that the Left Wingers will strongly advocate a claim for revision by the inclusion of some of a dozen returned soldier Labour members in the party. Prime Minister’s Stand The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, is known to be strongly averse to getting rid of his old colleague who bore the brunt of Labour’s fight for power years before their rivals entered the party or Parliament. Mr. Savage asserts the Prime Minister’s traditional right as the sole selector of the Cabinet team, though he is willing to consult caucus and also the national executive for advice if a deadlock arises. Mr. Lee is a member of the party's national executive. The Prime Minister met the position half-way during the last series of Government caucus meetings when he suggested the appointment of four Parliamentary under-secretaries. It is stated on good authority that when the four names of the proposed under-secretaries were mentioned to caucus the reception of one name in particular was so hostile that the whole scheme was abandoned. Banking policy has been a stronglyfought issue behind the caucus doors, with some public indications of a light. Rubuke for Dr. McMillan Within the last fortnight, the Government newspaper devoted its front page space to reminding Dr. D. G. McMillan, Dunedin Central, that his advocacy of the purchase of the Bank of New Zealand was not an official plank of the Labour Party. Nevertheless, this is an extremely live issue advocated by the Left Wing against the more conservative attitude of the Rights.

The official eclipse of Mr. Lee has been gradual. Nearly a year ago he gave up his complete office suite and private secretary on becoming attached to the office of the Minister of Housing, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong. He has used one room in Parliament Building where there is a telephone, but it is unlisted.

After the recent publication of his article on sick Prime Ministers, Mr. Lee was approached to ascertain if there had been official repercussions. He freely admitted that something was going to happen, promising a pressman “a front seat at the hanging.”