POLITICAL SITUATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1923, Page 4

POLITICAL SITUATION.

MR HOLLAND AT DUNEDIN. [BY TF.LEGHAPn —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION'] DUNEDIN, Feb. 22. Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, addressed a packed meeting at South Dunedin to-night. The speaker was frequently applauded, and at the close he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Holland claimed that the outstanding characteristic- of last election was the overwhelming defeat of Reform and the increase ol Labour's representation. Mr AVilford’s dilemma was, he said, that, prior to the election. he had declared in the House that he would never vote with Labour to turn Air Massey out, and that he would never take office with the assistance of Labour. The speaker argued that the member ship of the different parties was a strong ease For proportional representation. Had this system been in voeue, Labour would .have had two more seats, out ot the 10 it had contested : and if it had contested the* lit) electorates, it would probably have had 25 members in the House. Dealing with the new Labour members, Mr Holland declared that they could easily hold their own in debate Everv one of them was a brilliant speaker. It had been -aid that (at holies were behind the Labour Pally. Hi- reply to that was Dial last election he was opposed by a Catholic ami Howard Khloti's si ioitge-t supporters were all

on his upp tricnl s ter). After explaining how the La bout Party came to nominate Air Met oink for the Speakership, Mr Holland add. ed that Air Stalham had already firmed himself one ol the iairesf Speaker; New Zealand ever had.

The position at present was Unit ilionr had no confidence in All Alas-

sey and in future il would vote as it X 1 io east. So long as Mr Massey ■

copied a motion as a no-eonhdeuee motion Hit l Labour Party would adwavs vote for it. Attacking the Liberal-. Air Holland stated that a miml.or oi t hem such as Mr \\ui\ am! Colonel lb'll, had defeated Government i undulates, and had been elected l.v Dio workers because they were j n~i the Government. How. t'leii. ~,.,'d n.uv ho asked to reconcile their |.... i ~],.ei ion altitude with their preelection attitude! Alt' Uillord - aimi »,,, lied lie should take the Treasury !,cliche.-. and that he would he held It. -IV >. Reform. Air W'ill'ord vuM net deny that. Asked Low he W....H hold cilice if lie secured it. Air Millord had replied: "Labour could not defeat us unless Reform went with it. That might be all right in petty I''" 1 ;' court lighting, hut it was no good m the big political lighting ot the conn ,r\ It would he far better lor Air Wilton I to go over to the Governmeiii |,,.nehes and he done with it. |„ elosino, Air Holland eloquently urged the sinking of petty diilcrences in the common atm. In relereltee m cave: -ott'oiis between llie Kelornirand Liberals, he -aid that he did not know what would occur. It then a ...mlirmalion oi (his. M’" Dm. ,”i 'would probably imroilu."’ 'the prebi eutial voting system. "Lieli meant a ela-h. and was dilfereul I mu. pr-u.nr.iomd representation. ihe dash would he aimed at the del eat ol 1.---hour.