PARTY DISSENSIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1940, Page 9

PARTY DISSENSIONS

REGRETTED BY LABOUR CHIEF WHIP SIDES TAKEN ON MEAGRE INFORMATION HOPES OF RESTORING UNITY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, April 9. Addressing one of the most largelyattended meetings of the Greymouth branch of the Labour Party for some years, Mr. O'Brien, M.P., chief Government Whip, tonight stated -that he deeply regretted that some dissension had entered into Labour's ranks during the last year or so. The Labour members of Parliament had had serious differences over the question of democratic control (majority rule by caucus) of the party and though most of these had been kept from the public because of the injury which might be done to the Labour movement, a somewhat garbled account was made known. This had the effect of members of the party taking sides with very meagre information. He held that the Labour Party was well represented in Parliament, each and every member assisting to the best of his or her ability to further the policy and ideals of the party.

Regarding the expulsion of Mr. Lee, Mr. O’Brien said he considered Mr. Leo should have been severely censured for publishing the ungenerous article in “Tomorrow,” but his offence did not warrant his being driven out of the party, particularly when Mr Lee’s magnificent work in the Labour interests during the last 20 years was considered. Mr. Lee was capable of givingwonderful service to Labour and his services would be more appreciated inside the party than without. Regarding Mr. Barnard’s resignation, Mr. O’Brien said he deeply regretted his action and sincerely hoped that both Mr. Barnard and Mr. Lee would remain true to Labour's principles and platform, and that in the near future the decision in Mr. Lee's case would be reversed and Mr. Barnard would see his way clear to become an honoured member of the party. Mr. O’Brien said the time had not come when men who were trying to do their best should be expellee or resign, particularly when the party was now on the way to democratic control, which all so much desired. Hard feelings and bal’d words at the present tune would do more to split the party than all the attacks from outside, and Mi'. O'Brien said !>..» -.-.•ould point, onto each representative of Labour that his plain duty was to work for unity inside and outside of Parliament more sc now than ever before.

Mr. J. B. Kent, president of the branch and the Westland Labour Representation Committee, paid a warm tribute to Mr. O’Brien's personal work in restoring almost complete unity in the ranks of the Parliamentary Labour Party following the differences raised at the Easter conference over Mi’. Lee's expulsion. Mr. Kent said he knew the extent of Mr. O'Brien's work in this connection from his own personal knowledge. An unanimous vote of confidence in Mi’. O'Brien and appreciation of his work in maintaining the unity of the party was carried by the meeting.