MR HOLLAND’S PROMISES

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1931, Page 7

MR HOLLAND’S PROMISES

(Otago “Daily Times.”) Mr H. K. Holland lias delivered li m:11' recently ol‘ more than a sullicicmnumber of statements characterised by a bitterness that may charitably be attributed to the impotence of the Labour Party in the House ol Representatives and hy a wealth ol promises that have, been made with the irresponsibility that arises from •the knowledge that so long as lie is in a minority he cannot even attempt to fulfil them. Fortunately for his selfesteem .Mr Holland apparently cannot see that in the eyes of many people bis performances are rather pathetic, even if fraught with danger tor tineon n't r.v. The Leader of the Labour Tarty k not, however, a simple and guileless person, and is at any rate well aware that wage-earners and salaried work prs do not enjoy the prospect of having their earnings reduced, however pressing may be the necessity. To then he has now offered his solace. “'Whetl er the cuts wil lremain in operaetion after the end of the present year will depend solely upon the public servant.and the wage workers generally,” Mr Holland told the Labour Conference. “They have the matter in their own bauds. A Labour Government, or. corning into ofliee. Will lost' no time n repealing the wage reducing legislation.” The significance- of this statement is, of course, transparent. Hr Holland lias learned that those working people who may be described as traditionally Socialistic in their beliefs con sti'nitc onlv a minority of the electors in Now Zealand, their united voL having proved insufficient to place bin even at 'the bead of the Opposition lie is therefore casting around foi fresh converts to his party. Attempts to lure rl)<> 'farming community mt< tin* charmed circle have* failed somewhat dismally, but the passage of the Finance Hill lias left a portion of He. civil service rather disgruntled, and Mr Holland is quick to make a political opportunity out of the depression that exists in 'the Dominion. It does not require a student of economies to assure educated people that tlm wage reduction proposals that have been approved hy the Lower House are a necessary part of the Government's programme for the balancing of the State Budget or Hurt sinc-e the national income lias been reduced by more than lf2(.),LT:0,000 the public servants and award workers are not asked to make a sacrifice that is not being shared with them by otbei members of the community. Tin majority of wage earners themselves as intelligent people, 'fully realise tinposition. The necessity for wage reductions is, however, an unpalatable fact, and ’*>•• Holland is probably correct in as. lulling that many of 'those who will be affected would like t< believe that 'the “c-uts” are not absolutely essential. His unblushing offer to restore salaries and wages is extended to tin public servants and award workers in hope 'ihat the effect will be to secure block votes of substantial dimensions for the Labour Party at the approaching general election. II lie consideration that next year economic conditions in New Zealand may not be at all improved does not appear to weigh with him at all, so long as he can be assured of the support at the polls of those affected by the reductions contemplated in tli,- Finance Bill. He does not regard as politically immoral his suggestion that be will undertake to restore the wage scale ol special classes at the expense of everybody else in the Dominion. In deliberately making bis pointed bid for the votes of what be would constitute a privileged class, M,r Holland is seeking for political supremacy through the 'forfeiture of the ethical considerations that should govern the policy of a public- man who lias the interests of his country at heart. His one idea seems to be to plan for a clay when he can Like Cato, give his little senate laws And sit attentive to bis own applause Political corruption of the kind that obtains in the l nited Skates, and has been more than hinted in Australia, is happily foreign to New Zealand. There can be, however, political truckling that is scarcely less reprehensible in the consequences it may entail upon the State, and .Mr Holland’s offer to the public- servants and awaid workers falls within this category. Such an unashamed offer to benefiit one section of the community at the <-ost of the rest of the people, and probably of the financial stability of the country as well, marks a discreditab’e departure from the political practice of the past.