LABOUR PARTY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 April 1940, Page 5

LABOUR PARTY

ACTION OF THE GREY LYNN BRANCH COMMENT BY NATIONAL SECRETARY. REASONS FOR THE EXPULSION OF MR LEE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 11. In an interview this morning, Mr M. Moohan. national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, said that statements made by delegates at the meetings of the Grey Lynn branch of the New Zealand Labour Party last evening, when it was decided to support Mr J. A. Lee, distorted actual happenings at the New Zealand Labour Party's conference in Wellington at Easter. Mr Lee was expelled from the party because of his public attacks on the competency of the late leader, Mr Savage, said Mr Moohan. Mr Lee was severely censured for his public attacks on members of the Government at the 1939 annual conference, and was again censured by the national executive in January, 1940, for further attacks upon the late Prime Minister. At that executive meeting. Mr Lee, in addition to agreeing to publicly and personally apologise to the late Prime Minister, gave his solemn assurance to abide by all party decisions. Just before the last annual conference, Mr Lee again defied the national executive, and the whole circumstances together with Mr Savage's report were placed before the conference for consideration, continued Mr Moohan. __ After a debate lasting between five and six hours, in which every aspect was considered and Mr Lee given every opportunity to state his case, conference decided by a majority of 202 votes that Mr Lee was no longer fit to be a member of the Labour Party. Mr Lee was not expelled because of any particular opinions he may have held, but because he deliberately set out to try to destroy as a political force New Zealand's greatest statesman. the late Mr Savage, who stated in his report to conference that his life for two years had been made "a living hell" through Mr Lee's tactics. "It is importaint to note that the official report of the conference is not yet to hand, and discussion at the branch meeting was made without full knowledge of the facts.” said Mr Moohan. "There can be no doubt that when Grey Lynn party members are fully acquainted with the true situation. there will be no question about their loyalty to the party. "Apparently the branch secretary did not disclose to the meeting the fact that he had that day received a letter from the national office informing him that a meeting of branch members would be called at an early date to enable a national executive member to state the case on behalf of the party. “If some Grey Lynn members are going into voluntary political exile out of loyalty to Mr Lee. surely such action should be taken with full knowledge of the fact's, and not based upon a report from persons prejudiced in favour of Mr Lee. "To remove any misunderstanding.” concluded Mr Moohan. "the actual resolution passed by the conference was as follows: ‘That John A Lee. M.P. for Grey Lynn, having been guilty of conduct, and acts inconsistent with his position as a member of this party, this conference, in the interests of the Labour movement hereby expels him from the New Zealand Labour Party."’