MR. HOLLAND WARMLY RECEIVED

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 5

MR. HOLLAND WARMLY RECEIVED

(NXP.A^

rr-Reuter.

First Step Taken Towards Assuming Leadership Of Country

Co pyriaht)

- WELLINGTON, Decemher 6, The Prime Mipistor-elect, Mr. S. G. Holland, arrived in Wellington from Christchurch this morning in the inter-island ferry and will complete the next stage of assuming leadership of the country when he meets the outgoing Prime Minister, Mr, Fraser, for discussions at Parliament Buildings at 10 a.m. today.

Mr, Hoiland, already op deck as the ship came alongsi.de ihe wharf after a quiet trip, looked fit, well and happy. He respon'ded to waves of greeting from Mr, W. J. Sim, president of the National Party, and other party officials who had come to meet him. and as he reached the foot of - the gangway was welcomed by cries of "Good old Sid," and a qhorus of cheers and applause from the small crowd, which burst into a round of "For "He's a Joily Good Fellow" as. he posed for Press photographers and shook hands with many of those around him, Plenty Of Incident. It was not a particularly large crowd that gathered on ihe ferry wharf, probably because Wellington turned on a very wet, dull and windy morning for .'Mr. Holland's arrival. But there was plenty of incident as bulb after bulb of Press cameras flashed and stabbed through the dim lighted shed while Mr. Holland was responding to the 'demands of a busy troupe of photographers, He posed with his secretary, Miss M. Qooper — mistaken by one photographer for Mrs. Hglland — and with a smiling young lad wearing in his buttonhole a cornflower the colour of his eyes, and in response to a cry from the porthole of the ship he strode from shelter into the rain and was "shot" shaking hands with a blue-gowned, whitecapped stewardess Who wished him luck. ■ On only two days . of Mr. Holland's long pre-election tour did rain fall and the downpour this morning drew from him a somewhat sarcastic comment about the capital city's weather, which someone among the crowd of onlookers supplemented by quoting, "It's time for a. change." Mr. Holland ignored the busy stand of taxis on the wharf and walked through heavy rain across to the Hotel Waterloo, where he is staying. An enthusiastic friend from a window. high up- on one side of the hotel began waving his welcome • as .Mr. Holland was crossing the stre^et and he paused for a moment . tot wave back. Mr. Holland, in signing the hotel register, paused for a moment while he looked at the "Remarks" column. "Indefinite," he said, but he did not write that down. Mr. Holland breakfasted with Mr. Sim at the hotel and left soon afterwards for Parliament Buildings. He was given a warm reeeption

by a crowd of 300 supporters when he arrived in Parliament House grounds, Re walked from the hotel with Mr. Sim and a few minutes , before he reached the gates the Deputy Leader of the National Pariy, Mr, K, J. Holyoake, appeared and was given a rousing cheer by the animated crowd. As Mr. Holland approaehed the steps he was. cheered loudly and when" he reached the wide landing men, women and children sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," and gave him more cheers. It was some time before Mr. Holland could be heard above the excitement and then he sai'd how much he was encouraged by the welcome. "We have a long road ahead," said Mr. Holland. He paid tri'bute to Mr. Sim and the organisation he represented. "Don't give me more credit than I am entitled to. It's the organisation which is entitled to it." Now To Work. When the applause died away, Mr. Holland waved a black portfolio he was carrying and remarke'd, "Here's my homework in my satchel and I'm taking great care of it. Now I'm goingr to work and it might be a good idea if you went to work too!" The time was shortly after nine o'clock at that point and the crowd enjoyed the gentle dig if not a, hint. Mr. Sim then called for cheers for Mr. Holland and Mr. Holyoake, which the latter acknowledged by Mr. Ghurchill's famous victory sign, and cheers were given to Mr. Sim. Press photographers were kept very busy in their efforts to dodge the crowd and get pictures of Mr. Holland, Mr. Sirfi and Mr. Holyoake. Onlookers in the crowd were the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. Will Appleton, who was the unsuccessful candidate for the Wellington Central seat, Mr. Corbett, who has the distinction of being the only National candidate so far until the final count is completed to hold a majority at every polling booth in his electorate, Mr. Marshall, who was returned for Mt. Victoria and Mr. Broadfoot, for Waitomo. Mr. Holland went to the room designated "Leader of the Opposition," which he has known so well for some years, and attende'd to some matters of urgency. He was ready in good time to call on Mr. Fraser at 10 a.m.