LABOUR AND FUSION

Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1931, Page 5

LABOUR AND FUSION

TILT AT MR HOLLAND

QUESTION OF CLARITY,

' WELLINGTON, August 8. Ihe attitude oi the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, on the question of fusion was the subject of good-natured comment bv Mr ft. A. ivi right, M.P., when speaking at the smoke concert on Thursday evening of the Wellington Post and Telegraph employees. Mr 'Wright said it seemed to him that Mr Holland, Mr P. Fraser, and Mr W. iNash, all of. whom were present, believed in fusion—that is, fusion for the other two parties. He rould not say whether they believed in fusion for themselves. “I heard Mr Holland speak in the House this afternoon. A public man with experience like Mr Holland can express himself in such a way that there may he two or three different meanings in what he says,” Mr Wright added, amid laughter. “That is, if lie does not want to be clear. Of course, I am not saying that Mr Holland did not want to be clear.”

“I can understand Mr Wright being perplexed as to my statement,”’ Mr Holland said, when speaking later in the evening. “I was referring to two parties which shall bo nameless. I was explaining that one had said the other had accepted its policy and that the other had said that 'the other party had accepted its policy. I was explaining that they ■ were like two Australian snakes trying to swallow each other, each beginning at the tail end. ißv the time the swallowing process was half through-, both of them had died. I am sorry I could not make that clear to Mr Wright.