The expulsion of J. A. Lee and its effects on the development of the New Zealand Labour Party

Abstract

The topic of the expulsion of J.A. Lee and its effects on the development of the New Zealand Labour Party was chosen because it was suggested to the author that this event probably had important and far-reaching consequences for the Labour Party which were not widely known, and which had not yet been thoroughly researched. The Primary aim of my thesis research has been, therefore, to establish what were the effects of the expulsion - and of the subsequent formation by Lee of the Democratic Labour Party - on the LP, and to assess their importance in the development of the Party. But, to understand and assess the effects of the expulsion it is necessary, first of all, to know why and how Lee was expelled: thus the expulsion itself has been an important area of study.