LABOUR CAUCUS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1940, Page 9

LABOUR CAUCUS

I MR BARNARD'S CRITICISM. I QUESTION OF DEMOCRATIC ' RIGHTS. (Ry Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. I 1 urther light was shed on the recent caucus of the Parliamentary Labour Parly by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and member for Napier, Mr Barnard, in a statement j be issued to the Press in Wellington at I the weekend. He alleged that at the outset of tne caucus, before a leader was elected, a motion affirming the democratic rights of the members was proposed and seconded, but the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, refused to accept | it. "During the recent years we have plenty of evidence from more than one country that democratic forms may be used when there is no democracy in practice.” Mr Barnard said. ”A 1 the outset of the recent caucus, before a leader was elected, a motion affirming the democratic rights of the members was proposed and seconded, but Mr Fraser refused to accept it. 1 believe that caucus would have carried that motion. Mr Fraser would not have it. “The mer'e fact that his ruling, when challenged, was upheld does not alter lhe fact that the issue was not faced. Moreover, when it came to the election of a leader. Mr Fraser refused to follow- the constitutional practice of the Labour Party, which is that a preferential vote should be taken where more than two members are proposed for the one office. If some, even a majority, are prepared to play fast and loose with democratic principles, I can only deplore such an attitude. Caucus actually voted after its hands had been tied.

"In regard to the committee on finance.” said Mr Barnard, “it may be necessary or advisable to make public the terms of the order of reference, with additional information. If so. it will throw now light on the method I adopted, and the attitude of the Min- | ister concerned. | "It is improper to suggest, in stating there was no returned soldier representation in Cabinet. I was making a complaint against the late Prime Minister, Mr Savage. When Mr Savage selected his Cabinet, there was no war in sight. “Moreover,” said Mr Barnard, “it was at the personal request of the«late Prime Minister that I served as a member of the Council of Defence, and it was only during the past four months, when Mr Savage was unable tc participate actively in the work of the Cabinet or the Party, that the Defence Council was not permitted to meet. I believe that, had Mr Savage been sufficiently well, the council would have continued to meet and carry out its most important work, that of advising Cabinet on war policy and administration.”

BREAK WITH PARTY. CONDEMNED BY DISTRICT COMMITTEE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, April 14. The following resolution was adopted at the annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay Labour Representation Committee on Saturday night: “That this meeting expresses its condemnation of the action of Mr Barnard in abandoning his duty to the Labour Party as the Government of the country. and expresses its confidence in Mr Fraser as Prime Minister and its continued confidence in Mr E. L. Cullen as member for the electorate."