THE CLYDESIDERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1925, Page 2

THE CLYDESIDERS.

LIVELY I’ARTV MEETING. »08TRALIAN AND N Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LONDON, February 24. The “Evening News” political correspondent says: “Lively scenes marked the Parliamentary Labour Party’s private meeting which was crowded. Mr D. Kirkwood (Glasgow) vigorously ami defiantly reiterated that a member of the Executive gave the impression that the party would support the attack on the Prince of M ales’s tour. The Clydcsider.s unanimously supported. They refused to accept the loaders’ dictation upon what they consider to be vital principles. The Moderates condemned the criticisms, lording to an up:oar. Mr MacDonald, the Chairman had difficulty in restoring order. No resolution was passed, hut the C lydesiders were embittered, leading to the possibility of a widening party split.

A MIST X DERSTAXDIXO. LONDON, February 21

The Labour Party held a meeting to-day. which discussed Mr Kirkwood’s outburst against the Prince of Wales' tour. Mr Kirkwood was present and he explained that be had been asked by the Parliamentary Labour Party Executive to raise the question. He added that Mr MacDonald was Chairman of the meeting at which it was decided to take such action.

Mr MacDonald vigorously denied this statement.

The official report of to-dav’s meeting declares that Mr Kirkwood’s statement was based on a misunderstanding. The incident is therefore dosed. Other reports state Mr Kirkwood and the Cl.vdesiders wore bluntly unrepentant, and they resented any attempt to pillory them, hut they and a few of the English Labourites were in a hopeless minority. It was stated that the misunderstanding lay in Mr Kirkwood taking seriously an Executive member’s casual remark that tie was the man to take up the matter in the House.

Th c “Daily Chronicle’s” lobbyist says: “To-day’s stormy Labour meeting shows that there is growing lack of understanding between Mr MacDon■ii,l :md his extreme elements. M’ MacDonald has begun to realise that the leadership "ill he impossible unless the rank and file submit to discipline hut the Scottish hack benchers refuse to accept any dictation. They regard the leader as a mere mouthpiece. for their opinions.''