LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 May 1936, Page 7

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA

MR GARDEN TO APPEAL. EXPELLED FOR A PRINCIPLE. LABOUR CIRCLES PERTURBED. United Press Assn.—tiTH. Copyright. SYDNEY, May 20. In an interview to-day Mr J. S. Garden, who was expelled from the Australian Labour Party, said he would appeal to the next Easter Labour Conference against the executive’s decision. “I have been expelled before for a principle and time has proved me right as it will do again,” he said. “ I am as deeply concerned as anyone about the need for unity In the Labour movement. I am equally insistent that no dictator sha»l dominate the Australian Labour Party. Might is not always right.’ Mr Garden’s expulsion by the State branch c-arries with It expulsion from the Parliamentary caucus, or party, room at Canberra where developments are now awaited. Th* Faotion Fight. Labour circles are gravely perturbed by the expulsion of Mr Garden, which, it is feared, will intensify the faction fight already begun over the control of Labour’s broadcasting station. Although Mr Garden has been removed from the Labour Party, he still remains a member of the Labour Council which represents the most active unions of the State and includes many unions affiliated with the Stale Labour Party. Therefore he has a large following representing the industrial wing which is capable of completely dividing Labour’s forces in New South Wales. This aspect is causing most ofr the anxiety on the part of Federal Labour politicians who fear the breach between Mr Lang and Mr Garden will be most difficult to heal, and probably will have a repercussion at the next election, which is what they w'anted to avoid. The newspapers recall that Mf Garden was responsible for the “red rules,” which gave Mr l.ang complete control over the Labour Party and provided political careers for several prominent men in the Labour movemen t.