A POLITICAL ADDRESS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1925, Page 4

A POLITICAL ADDRESS.

MR H. HOLLAND AT TOWN HALL. THE LABOUR LEADEK'.S PLATFORM. .Mr 11. Holland, Parliamentary loader nl Ihe Labour Parly, and tin' in l lii-i- for Muller, delivered a politteal address in the Town Hall on Satur.l a night at t“* o'clock. I here was a -arge ituendiinee and the s|ieaker was given tin excellent hearing. Mr Neil Warren occupied the chair, apologising for the iihsenee of the .Mayor, who was in South Westland, ami then briefly introduced the speaker. Mr Holland, who was received wit-t applause, said he was there to explain the policy of the I.a hour Party, and ;,Uo to support the candidature for Westland seat of the sitting member .Mr .lames O'Mricn. Mr Holland said had hcell assoeiated witli M.r (t’ Ifri.'ii for many years. In laet he was one of those who laid been instrumental in hint (.Mr Holland) coming to the Grey |o contest the Grey seal. During t!:e ki.--t there years he had keen associated with him in Parliament. and he assured them that never had the interests of the district heon so well attended to. Mr I) Strieu had oiveil every possilile attention to every matter that, had been brought undet his notice and had done Id- utmost foi the district, lie felt sure that higood work would he red ionised by tilt electors and that he would he agail returned tit the lorllicoinitie election a - the member lur Mestland. Mr link lan ieerelted that there were no repre ■ en| at 1 vt's ol the lorn I ptiper present tun! also referred to the absence of tie

press Association agent. [Mr Holland wh.n in t*rror jis lvnivstMitativcs wore present. F.d "G.”'] He expressed tli • opinion thal this treatment was not light or proper to he accorded him. Dealing wi|h the politics of the day. Mr Holland referred at length to the land question. lie said the Relnim Party, claimed to have given the I reeliold. hut he held there was no freehold operation in New Zealand. On March Mist last the capital value of tinland in New Zealand was nearly .'oh million pounds, and on the same date tin- repast e red murt gages was about. J7O millions. With such hum- itiortmiges it uas ridieidnus to talk about the people having the freehold. A very small number actually had the freehold of their property. It was all in the hands ol the hanks and hip |oinline companies. The animal interest on mortgages amounted to nearly iM millions and ol this the small rural landholder was payinp over seventy per cent, which showed conclusively who was carrying the real liurder.. (uuliuuittg the speaker stated that the l.nbimir Party stnud lor a land tenure wlt.icli would give the fanner the fruit s cf 1 1 is working. I lie tenant s absolute right to the improvements he elicited to his pronertv was al-o one ot the Party's platform planks. '1 he Party stood for a revolution of till the laud in New Zealand. If an owner tell aggrieved iR his valuation. he could value his hind himself, and he taxed accordingly. Ilis own valuation would go on record, with the proviso that the State may take the land at that valuation or go on taxiup it accordinp to that valuation. One important part ol tin.* l.ahotir platlorm was that tlu-re should lie no sale or transfer of land except to the State. Closer settlement and increased production were desirable conditions which the Labour Party was endeavouring jo brinp about. More pen-ill- were needed on the land, increased production was essential, si that ti'c farmer could obtain a remloflal'li- livinp off his propel tv. instead of, as now. uorkinp lor the u-ortpape. During the last ten years, endinp ID-I. the number ot land trausters amount-,-d to M'ir.M7tt. the cost ot wl ir!i »;: ■ ClH.HtiO.Ptt't or Cl .Still,f> )i) annually. 'I here wa.- mithiup 111 the I.about Partv’s ooliev to iutetlere with tlr: ripliL ol inheritance. There was tomuch tendency nowadays h-r larmerii to nil 11 11 -:t■ sons to college, and tlteu pul them to pent eel oecupat ion.', in stead of ettllinp them httek to aprietiltural pursttifs. There was no lea-nn wltv a farmer, a carpenter, or a coal miner should not attain tl-.- highest. ■ e.-pree ill education and then follow Ills

or lim-iry ptii sniL. There was in Xew ;X t •:;!: i!! 1 1 to-dav 25 nor rout more laWvoi.. I hail | la-re v.a - work lor. I lo de,la,i 1 at alt hough lla- Labour Party H-oald at-vor inti-rforo with I ho right of ialioritain 0 it would oortainly in-ert-use the death duties mi hi;.', estates. 11l lie cu-e 111 soldier lands, said the speaker. | hero non- great over valuations. i'reseats ’aero made of millions o| n-oiioy to siiocillatoi's at the expense of the rotaraod soldiers and iho eoininanity generally. lie tackled the (picsLinn in Parliament and they had written down valuations ' millions Imt la- believed they would event nailv laive to write them down , to Is mil-tii-ois. Two ami a half millions laid ii.-e-i given a'.aiv for valm-- ilmt did not exist. The worst land,, were sold and the host kepi. The soldier fought lor the ronotrv and the mortgagor out | |u- land. deference was made to tinlarge increase made l»v the (-nvernmeiit in tin- indebtedness ot the oonntry wliioli had increased hy leans an l bounds. The l.alamr Parly stood for proportional representation, an increase in pensions to 2ns per week, a >*. ta1 1 - hanks which could he established wit.-.out any capita beyond utilising the rtate nuhlic accounts. In his concluding icmarks the speaker relerrod to tin coininji election which was to lie lough.; cut between the Kelonn Party and tl-e Progressive- l.almur Party. IPsaid the Liberal- were a party of the past. The. whole struggle would be 1 etweeii lictorm and Labour. Peit-r----cuce was made io the mining info I power in the early nineties of Pal-1 lance and maiden, and to the progres-| ..ire legislation that had been passed./ and how New X, al.irnl had hcen carried Ini ward a , a result o| -mil pi ogre-- j she ley i - la t ion. a tribute being paid t'.‘ Hallaoee and Seddoii. I in-ir great J work had uplifted New Zealand and had drawn attention to his country all the world, 'flu- same troubles that laid la-on laced liv Hallance were recurriny lu-re attain, and the progressive l.ahour Party wore asking to In* given the opnortunity ot assisting to uplift Xew Zealand again, lie asked tor their support to tlu- cause he was upholding. and said if the late P. .). Seddon knew the attitude his son was taking in the present contest, it would he enough to make him turn in his grave. The election was being fought hv the Reform Party on the one hand and the progressive l.ahour Party on , the other and the people had to decide , what course they would lake. The lieform Party was standing still or going backward, hut the progressive Labour Party was advancing and that put him in mind of the apt limitation on the Diggers’ monument in the town " Where the Vanguard rests to-day. tin- Rearguard rests to-morrow. That applied to the progressive l.ahour ~ Party who were always advancing in t the interests of the people. Mr Hoi- c land said the Labour Party had been 0 steadily growing at every election and he believed after the coining election , that it would march on the Treasury Peaches and write afresh the laws of Xew Zealand not in any narrow class incs, bur in the interests of ever- man and woman who renders social service to their country. (Applause.) QUESTIONS. Mr MoGavin asked what should he done with a paper that did not report liis speech and then a few days after •

ho had pone criticised his address. Mr Holland replied that in such ti ease it should he treated with contempt. Mr Timpson askecl what could be done in regard to the wtiste timber left hy millers when people in Christchurch were asking for it and had t-i pay Cl a cord for inferior timber. Mi Holland said it was a question for consideration. 'I he Department was trying to make the railways pity, whereas they should not look to them paving as much as to their proving a utility to idle people. Mr C. Friend asked in regard to the fusion proposals to which .Mr Holland said thee were not ol interest as the Liberal Party was a dying one. Mr A. Cutluisli proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Holland for his able address. .Seconded hy Mr P. McQuilkin and carried. Mr Holland thanked the audience for the splendid hearing given and moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding, which was caried hy acclamation. On Mr Holland’s call three che'-rs were heartily given for Mr .lanms O’lirion. and the meeting, which wa- a very successful one. came to a conclusion.