LABOUR LEADER

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1928, Page 6

LABOUR LEADER

OPENS HIS CAMPAIGN, 'By Telegraph—-Press Association). MASTERTON, October 10. The Leader of the Opposition Mr H. E. Holland opened-the Labour Party’s Election Campaign to-night in the Alasterton Town Hall, which was comfortably filled. The mayor of Masterton, Mr T. Jordan, presided at the meeting and he welcomed Mr Holland as the Leader of one of the chief Political Parties in the land. The Leader of the Opposition said that he wished to express, his gratification at the splendid attendance that night. To him it was an indication of the great interest that was being taken in the political situation and in the campaign in which what appeared to him the greatest political battle ever fought in New Zealand was to be decided. (Applause). Air Holland said that he realised that it would be quite futile for the Opposition to offer merely destructive criticism, for the aim of an Opposition was to replace the Government of the day, and ,it could only do that by offering a constructive policy to replace that of the present Government. While there were three main Parties in the field the real fight would S 1 '©, of course, -between the Reform Party nnd'.the Labour Party. He did not think "that the United Party would be a very serious factor in the contest. and contended that any autiGjovernment votes cast for the United Party candidates would, in the end, amount to support for the Government, for an analysis of the number of divisions from the time that Air Coates came into office, would show that, in the vast majority of cases, by far the greater proportion of the Liberals voted in support of the- Government, fn any case at the United Party conference, the Chairman’s declaration of hostility to the Labour Party was nnnlistakeajble. Whoever found himself in opposition to the Government had no choice whatever but to vote for the Official Opoosition candidates if he desired to displace the present Government.

■ >At the conclusion of a lengthy address, a hearty vote of thanks to Air Holland, proposed liv Air Ben Roberts, was declared carried, there being no dissentient.