MR. HOLLAND'S LECTURES'

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 266, 4 August 1920, Page 8

MR. HOLLAND'S LECTURES'

CONDEMNED BY PRIME MINISTER,

Ecferenco was 3nade in the House yesterday ,to public lectures recently delivered by the Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party (Mr. 11. Holland) on the Irish question, and the Prime Minister, 'in answer to a question by Mr. Glenn, took the opportunity to express Hie strongest disapproval of Mr. Holland's conduct.

Mr. Massey said ho would like to sty that he strongly disapproved of what the honourable member for Buller was doing in this direction.

Mr. Holland: Havo Iho people no -ights?

Mr. Massey: I am not interfering with the honourable member's rights. I think he is doing a wrong thing, Mr. Holland: Well, I am going to do it. -

Mr. Massey: The honourable member will find nimsclrbrenking tjhe law. one ot these nays,, and then he will be in trouble. I strongly disapprove, not because of any industrial trouble in this country, but. because the Government of the United Kingdom is having very serious difficulties on account of troubles in India and in Ireland particularly. -So far as I am concerned, I am very strongly of opinion that the Umpire must, be ikept together at any cost, and at any sacrifice. That Is what. 1 think:, and I am quite certain that ihe majority of the peoplo in New Zealand are with me in that.

' Mr. Holland complained Ihat the purpose of his lectures had boon misrepresented, in his lecture at Auckland on Sunday night ho had simply unversed the facts of history, ami his own actions in the House. He had placed his actions before the people and had given them the opportunity of saying whether ho or tht Labour Party had done wrong. "Nebody can allege tlnvi what I said at Auckland could possibly do nny harm so far as this country or any other country is concerned," Mr. Holland assorted. "I want to say, further, that 1 am going to continue thoso lectures,, and leave it ;o the people to say whether I am right or wrong.''