POSITION STATED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1940, Page 5

POSITION STATED

MR BARNARD RETAINING SPEAKERSHIP ’ \ SAYS LABOUR PARTY IS GOING FASCIST. DOMINANCE OF INDUSTRIAL LEADERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 8. A declaration that he did not intend to resign from the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives, and that neither he nor Mr. Lee intended to resign their seats, was made by Mr. Barnard in his address in the Town Hall. Stating that he had twice been elected Speaker of the House, and constitutionally by the whole House, Mr. Barnard said his election was for the whole term of Parliament. It was a position he intended to retain. It would have been easier for him to keep out of trouble and do nothing, but, after due consideration, he had decided he could not stand aside and quietly witness the deterioration of the Labour Party, the wilful destruction of democracy and, the infiltration of Fascist ideas.

The New Zealand Labour Party was 1 not completely Fascist, but it was ■ rapidly going in that direction. For t about 18 months there had not been 1 majority rule in caucus; it had not apf plied in the election of Cabinet and in f the question of taking over the Bank ■ of New Zealand. There was a growing disposition on ■ the part of some Ministers to resent • opposition or criticism. Conference I was no longer a body of people who • conferred; it was a crowd in which it t was possible to indulge in a great deal of "log rolling” and even trickery. He i said, quite calmly, that both these prin- ; ciples had been practised at the last 1 two conferences. Issues on which they ■ had been permitted to vote were care- ’ fully selected. Full debate was not 1 permitted, except in the interests of ; certain powerful individuals. ' The forms of democracy were still ' used, as in Germany and Russia, but he who said anything not favoured was dealt with in a variety of subtle ways. There was increasing dominance of the Labour Party by five or six powerful industrial leaders. There were one or two of them in this city. Delegates to the conference were hand-picked, and those who did not happen to be in the centre had no direct representation. (Cries of dissent.). “I tell you there are 800 members of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers’ Union in Hawke’s Bay with no direct representation,” Mr. Barnard said. “Some of us fought 20 years ago against very great tyranny, and we are not disposed to yield to modern Prussianism in New Zealand today,” he added. , A voice: “Why bring that up?” Mr. Barnard: “Oh, I know it is a very uncomfortable thing for some people.” The National Party stood for the past, Mr. Barnard added, the Labour Party for the present, and the maintenance of things as they were at present, and the Democratic Labour Party stood for the future. LEE EXPULSION APPROVED BY AUCKLAND WATERSIDERS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. AUCKLAND. May 8. Waterside workers at a meeting today attended by approximately 1200 members carried the following resolution: —“This meeting has confidence in the New Zealand Labour Government, and upholds the decision of the annual conference of the party in expelling Mr. J. A. Lee. It instructs its delegates on the Labour Representation Committees to uphold the expulsion.” DUNEDIN RESOLUTION. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. DUNEDIN. May 8. A resolution of loyalty to the Prime Minister. Mr. Fraser, was adopted at the monthly meeting of the Dunedin Waterside Workers’ Union this morning. The resolution was as follows:— •That this meeting of members, representing the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union, unanimously records its appreciation Of the work done by Mr. Fraser while acting as Prime Minister during the illness of our late Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, and also pledges itself to give to him its loyal support as Prime Minister and leader to the party to carry on the great work to which Mr. Savage's life was dedicated.”