HOLLAND'S SENTENCE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2133, 27 April 1914, Page 6

HOLLAND'S SENTENCE

MITIGATION OPPOSED

PAHIATUA'S REAL FEELING.

(By Toleereeh.—Spccie.l Correspondent,) Pahlatua, April 23. A hurriedly-convened meeting of Pahiatua residents was held ra tho Borough Council Chambers to-day to deal with a resolution passed at a meeting of Socinl Democrats on Thursday ovening. At that meeting a motion was carried asking tho Uovernment to release Henry Holland, now in prison alter conviction for seditious speech. Twenty-nine business people and residents attended. The, Mayor, Mr, J. 1). 0. Crewe-j who presided, invited free and open, discussion. ' Mr. G. Harold Smith said that they should put it on record that tho pcsiple of Pahiatua absolutely disclaim alt responsibility for tho motion pss3od by tnose few people at Mr. Hunter's meeting. The Press Association message, ho said, was apt to give an irftpressioii that tho people of Pahiatua sympathised with tho motion passed at the Social Democratic meeting. Ho had .spoken to a number of people who thought tlint Holland's sentence was a very lenient one, and ho thought that he could safciy say that not more than three per cent, of the Pahiatua people were in sympathy with the motion passed by the Social Democrats. Messrs. W. Tosswill, .T. Osbofne Lilly, J. p. Wilson, and A. Hoss spobo in a similar strain. Mr. J. Osborno Lilly considered that tho resolution by tho'Social Democrats was a gross slur on the people of Pahiatua. Their loyalty to the* Croffit end the law was unquestionable. Tho Mayor invited anyone present who was in favour of Thursday s resolution to speak, but there, was no response. The following motion was then moved by Mr. Smith,- seconded by Mr. Tps's--will, and carried unanimously :—"That this meeting, which is representative of the people of Pahiatua, though hurriedly called, desires to record that tho motion of sympathy with Hollaad, passed at Mr. Hunter's meeting, was supported by very few people. Further, that it is tho opinion of this meeting that ninety per cont. of the local peoplo consider that Holland was very leniently dealt with; also that Mr. Edward Bauclce, president of tho Pafiiatua Progressive Association, bad.nothing to do with tho motion carried, and ho has Ho sympathy with tho same." ■ It was decided to.immediately dispatch a copy of tho above resolution to the Minister of Justice./ It was also decided to. hold a public meeting next week; and further discuss Thursday's resolution, and invite all classes •of the community to attend.-.' • ... A further resolution was passed endorsing the action of the Mayor in' presiding at Mr. Hunter's meeting, for tho reason that it was desirable that the Mayor should take the, chair at any public meeting calltSd by any section of tlie community.