LABOUR M.P. RESIGNS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 160, 27 September 1927, Page 9

LABOUR M.P. RESIGNS

MR. WHEATLEY’S DECISION SEQUEL TO LIBEL ACTION By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Sunday. The “Daily Express” says Mr. J. Wheatley, Labour M.P. for the Shettleston division of Glasgow, yesterday placed his resignation from the House of Commons in the hands of the local Labour Party at a meeting of the latter. Mr. Wheatley is said to have refused to alter his decision,, which is attributed to his unsuccessful action for alleged libel against Messrs. J. M. R. Miller and A. B. Anderson.—A. and N.Z. Mr. John Wheatley has represented Shettleston, Glasgow, since 1892, and was Minister of Health in the MacDonald Ministry. He is a child of the slums, and one of 11 persons, as he told the House of Commons, who lived for years in a single-roomed apartment in Lancashire. From the age of 12 until he was 22 he worked in coal mines. Mr. Wheatley used to lead the Labour group in the Glasgow Town Council. He is president of the Scottish Labour Housing Association and a J.P. Mr. Wheatley, on July 12, lost an action at Edinburgh against John M. R. Miller and Alexander B. Anderson, from each of whom he claimed £3,000 damages. Plaintiff alleged that a letter which Miller, who was his Conservative opponent, wrote to Anderson’s newspaper, the “Eastern Argus,” contained slanderous statements. The jury, by a majority of nine to three, favom*ed defendants on the first issue, which was whether the letter falsely represented Mr. Wheatley as a dishonourable, crooked and mean character. On the second issue, whether Mr. Wheatley had no regard for an oath, the jury unanimously favoured defendants. The case arose out of Mr. Wheatley’s offer to pay £I,OOO to anybody who would prove the truth of rumours which, he contended, had reduced his Parliamentary majority.