WHITE FEATHER

Evening Star, Issue 23383, 28 September 1939, Page 17

WHITE FEATHER

EX-SOLDIER INSULTED » COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN ALLEGED [I'ICOU Oc 11 P.UtLIAMKXTAKV COUIUJSI’OSDEXTj WELLINGTOX, September 'J7. In tones ot strong iimigmiuou, Mr S. G. Holland i:\auoual meinour tor Christchurch Aortn) toia the House ot an exhibition of bad taste by some anonymous person. He had, he said, ©n, his body the scats of his service to the country in the. last war, and here ivaa his card of enlistment tor the present period, showing his desire again to do his duty. .. - JThen, picking up a paper to which a ■wfcite feather was attached, Mr Holland (aid he had received' this. And 1 hope 'the person who sent me my white feather is listening to-night and that he •will be so ashamed that.ho will not be able to sleep.” ' Mr Carr (Government, limaru) : iWhy take notice of. irresponsible persons? ' Mr Holland: I have listened to you. (Laughter.) Mr Holland added that he never boasted) of his war service, but at the same time this was going r ou throughout the community,'and he brought it up to urge the Government to make it a heavily punishably offence, in order to protect our soldiers and public men prepared to do their duty. He proceeded ■, strongly to denounce the Governmentjqr producing “ tiddleywinking legislation while; Rome was Filming, adding: “If I had .my "WHy 91 ~■■■:■ . ■ Labour Alemhcrs: Hail, - Hitler! (Laughtef.) i ■ Mr Holland: If I. had the uower to make the Government and the people of this country : realise the danger . New Zealand and the Empire are faced with

Mr Meachen (Government, Marlborough) ; Is not the Government doing its part? Mr Holland, referring to Dr M‘Millan’s suggestion of free-of-interest loans, declared that Capital was prepared to do its part. Mr Carr: At-what rate of interest? -

Mr Holland: At whatever the Government thinks reasonable. Capital agrees that no war profits should be made.

The next Government speaker, Mr J. A. Lee (Grey Lynn) suggested that Mr Holland had worked himself into a fury against the- Labour Government because someone sent him a white feather. “ I am not concerned abont passing legislation to prevent it,” concluded Mr Lee, “ blit if anyone wants to send me a bale of feathers I won’t mind; but if they hand me one I will glare 'as strongly as' the hon. member glared at the Government.”