THE LABOUR LEADER

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1925, Page 1

THE LABOUR LEADER

[BY TELKGUAPO—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHIM.STCnCIiCII. April 1.

-Mr 11. E. Holland, ALB., Leader of the Labour Party, delivered a political address to-night, tit the Caledonian Ball. There was a large attendance.

.Mr Holland said that lie believed that this Parliament would run its full course, and that the general elections would take place as usual in .December. Of course, he might he mistaken in this respect, and the elections might he precipitated sooner than was expected. Wether it was liked or not, said .Mr Holland, the day wars coming when Labour would we.iipy the Treasury Benches. The line of demarcation between the Liberals and the Reform parties was so line as to he invisible. Ah- AVilFord had made the statement that he would never join with the Labour Party to form a. Government. “Tt gees without saying,” commented Mr Holland, “hcuuse they know they cannot got us!”

Mr Wilford. lie continued. had gone practically into Mr Massey’s camp and lie (Mr Holland) hoped that lie would stay there. Tie said that the Labour Party stood for n vigorous housing policy, and il was out to give every young man and woman a chance to marry and live in good houses. It was the opinion of the Party that the host immigrants who could come into the Dominion wore those who came into it by way of the cradle. It was essential that the Government should provide a house in respect of which one day’s wages would pay the rent. The old age pensions should he increased to at least iis a week.

The Labour Party wanted to see the nationalisation of the Health Services of the Dominion. The Party’s idea was to cut up the country into blocks, and to have a medical man in charge of each with capable assistants. In the course of Ids speech. .Mr Holland protested against the Press Association being used for the purposes of broadcasting siu-li. filth as the Dennisloim ease. I lie day was coming when the daily papers would have to pay ordinary rates for such messages. It was. a deplorable thing for the papers to use their space for such stuff. Mr Holland was accorded a vote of thanks and the meeting dosed with cheers for labour.