MR LEE CHALLENGED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 135, 8 May 1940, Page 8

MR LEE CHALLENGED

CONTEST FOR GREY LYNN. MR SCHRAMM SPEAKS OUT. , Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 7. Defending his action in moving tor the expulsion of Mr J. A, Leo, M.P., from the Labour Party because of his alleged attacks on the late Prime Minister (lit. Hon. M. J. Savage), Mr F. \V. Schramm, M.P., was loudly applauded and encouraged by an audience of ovtfr 150 at it campaign meeting of Mr P. Carr, Labour candidate in the Auckland West by-election, held at Newton to-night. Referring to the presence of a boy at the front door of the hall carrying a placard labelled, “Mr Lee expelled for telling the truth,” Mr Schramm said no one was expelled from the Labour Party for telling the truth, leastof all Mr Lee. “I will take tho platform anywhere in New Zealand to justify my action in standing by Mr Savage,” said Mr Schramm. “I make no apology for the stand I took to protect him and see that the truth might he placed before the people.

“If Mr Lee wants to fight Grey Lynn to-morrow, i will go and fight it, with him,” said Mr Schramm amid loud applause and cheering, “i would resign my seat to do it if he would resign his. He is not lighting a sick man when lie fights me, and 1 will fight him on the platform anywhere.” At this stage Mr Schramm’s words were drowned m cheering. As it subsided a voice asked: “Wny don’t you attend his meeting to-morrow night and say these tilings to his face?” “I have said them to his lace,” said Mr Schramm. “I moved the motion at the conference for his expulsion, and God knows it was the best thing I have ever done in my life.” Speaking of the resignation of Hon. W. E. Barnard, Mr Schramm said: “Mr Lee gave him the idea that lie could be the future Prime Minister of New Zealand and poor old Billy Barnard believed him.” Laughter and cheers were intermingled as Mr Schramm continued, demanding the resignation of Mr Lee and Mr Barnard from their scats and inviting them to go to the electors. RESIGNATION DEMANDED. A resolution demanding that Mr Lee should resign his seat was adopted unanimously by about 300 members of Grey Lynn, Westmere and Point Chevalier branches of the Labour Party after an address by the Prime Minister at Grey Lynn. The meeting was said to be fully representative of the three branches. The meeting was not open to the Press. It was reported, however, that those present gave the Prime Minister a most attentive hearing. Mr Fraser spoke at length, discussing the events leading to the expulsion of Mr Lee from the Labour Party, and he also reviewed the present situation of the party. The resolution was: “That this meeting, representing three branches of the Labour Party in Grey Lynn electorate, demands that Mr Lee resign his seat, as he no longer holds the confidence of the Labour Party, which was responsible for his election to Parliament^’ A fiicond resolution was: “That this meet\g of members of the Grey Lynn, Westmere and Port Chevalier branches pledges unswerving loyalty to the Prime Minister and the Government.” At the conclusion, cheers were given for “a new Labour member for Grey Lynn,” for Mr Fraser and for the Government. c