HARRY HOLLAND, M.P.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1835, 4 June 1918, Page 3

HARRY HOLLAND, M.P.

(To the Editor.)

Sir. —I notice in your paper that a few of the “old Parliamentary hands” are greatly concerned about the above-named gentleman being returned to Parliament, and are smarting to guess already. Sir, let them predict, and smile as much as they like, he is there,' and there he will stay, for once he gets his chance he will be returned in almost any Labour centre in New Zealand. I notice they have not had the decency to stop their mud-slinging yet; but, there, any Labour man expects that now-a-days. They say that Air Holland, after a while wijl accept the inevitable. Well, Sir, his life gives them the lie direct, for he is a man that will fight to the last; Of all Labour men in New Zealand, Harry Holland is the last man »the Labour Party expects to accept the Tory inevitable.—l am, etc., DEMO. Park Street, Foxton. [AS water finds-its level, so will Air ' Holland find his level in Parliament. He will be given his opportunity in accordance with constitutional procedure. In Parliament no man is a law unto himself. Commenting upon Air Holland’s election, the -Westport News says; —“Although Air Holland secures the seat, the victory is really a defeat, for the majority of Mr Webb, whose mantle he claimed to wear in this contest, has shrunk from 980 to some 210 votes, the final figures not yet being available. It is a terrible come-down, especially when it is known that the supporters of Air Holland counted on gaining something in the vicinity of 1,000 votes, many of them even putting that margin as too low. Had the vote been taken early in the contest, Air Holland might have gained something like that majority, but the longer he spoke the greater the shrinkage in his majority, and yesterday it had dwindled down to just over 200 votes. Had the campaign continued a little, longer, the majority would'more than probably have been converted into a substantial minority—Ed. H.]

(To the Editor.)-

Sir. —I did not have the pleasure of reading Mr Largess first letter, but I believe it was something about forming a club in Foxton. Now, .Sir, the idea is no doubt a good one, but I am going to show Mr Large a few reasons why such a scheme will not be a success, especially at present, and for a few years, maybe, after the war. In the first place, the public has had so many calls upon its generosity lately, dipping its hands down fox* this and that cause, that it is just about fed up with dipping. Now, Sir, the public does not mind so much the dipping when they know what is being done with the money. All over the country people are complaining —rightly or wrongly I do not profess to know — that the patriotic funds are not be- j ing used properly. Then, again, think of the money that has been collected to enable the returned soldiers to form their clubs. Well, now that all this money has been got together, mostly from the working class, and the Second Division men at that, what do we find 1 ? Why, the returned soldiers at Auckland and New Plymouth passing resolutions condemning the Second Division League for asking, in my opinion, for a square deal. Secondly, does Mr Large forget that on the Statute Book is a law called Industrial Conscription, which enables the Government at any time to take tho workers of Foxton away to some other part of the country? Yes, Sir, and even Mr Large may have to “fall in and follow me.” Yes, and one of the other drapers left to run his business. Thirdly, all Mr Large’s spare money will be needed for the next 7 war loan, anyhow. Perhaps in the meanwhile he can use it to good advantage. Seeing that Mr Large has got a soft job, he needs a little recreation, but the majority of working men get enough, and look forward to his conch or armchair. It does'- not always do, as is Mr Large’s custom, to sign one’s own name, as thei’e is such a thing as victimisation in this country, but at anyrate I am going to follow his example and sign myself—Yours, etc.,

M. J. HAYWARD, Park Street. [WE fail to see any connection between the foregoing and Mr Large’s suggestion that a club should be formed locally for so-' cial intercourse. It is true that the public has had many calls upon it for patriotic purposes, and has responded generously. Over four hundred pounds has been given voluntarily in Poxton during the past three weeks for patriotic purposes. That is a sufficient answer to the “fed up” argument. If people want to know how the funds are disposed of they can get particulars of same from any Patriotic Society, or attend any meeting and ask questions. As a rule, those who never contribue to the patirotic funds have the most to say in this connection. Bo , far as Industrial Conscription is concerned, Parliament is justified in adopting any war measures which may assist the Empire in defeating an unscrupulous enemy.~rEd.H.] (To the Editor.) Sir. —Just a few lines in reply to Mr Large, but before doing so I would like to impress upon him that

he asked for suggestion; s, and as I) had one to put forth, \ v’hich I did he has, to read his replj taken my suggestion as a feeler ti > draw him on politics, and his interest in a club as a personal benefit. I; . presume he means that I took his in terest in a club as such, but nothin; g was further from my mind. Wj ell, sir, my previous suggestion sti 11 stands, with the addition that we do not confine our energies to polities alone, but debate all i he current questions of the day, ai id we also try to eater for the soc: ial side as well, for it is by these me dhods that we hope to achieve our ob jects. Sectarianism we firmly co: nderan, in fact, we are supplying the ; very suggestion put forth by “Lo dge Member/ 7 which Mr Large enc lorsed, for a debating club includes p olitics and current questions. And i may I ask will he bar these topics from his club? If so, what can be discussed and be of any use to man! kind? Can he tell me how many will ] day cards without the incentive to 1 mve a little bit on the result, or sot , oeinducement to make the game in teresting? Fancy a game of poker u nder such conditions. Now, as to m aeding recreation, how many of us , who- are the majority of the popula -tion, toilers, can find time for re 'creation? lam afraid,we would m sed to bo sound in wind and limb tc • woik all day and play away the r light, and Avhat would our “bettc n-halves have to say about it, anyhow? Further, as the position i s to-day, there is practically only > one class that could afford to be •sqm eezed any more, and they find recr cation in motor cars and such-like, fox while their spare time is taken u: p reckoning their profits and how ; to add to them, the other class, the toiler, is x’eekoning how to make tb is week s 1 pittance see to the end iof nextweek. I often have to w ear large breeches because they arc ■ cheaper than a stylish pair; in fact, if things go on like they are a -t present I think I shall have to £ idopt the kilt. No, Hr Large, as the majority of single men are at the f; rant, and the Second Division is pi ’oceeding there, and all the various funds to contribute to, I cannot see that the time is opportune for anx ? further amusement on the lines f .uggested by Mr Large. In eonclusi on, I extend a hearty invitation t o him -to join our Party in the meanl Jme, and to come along to the next meeting, and he will be surprised at • the number of budding statesmen a nd suchlike. Come along, brother. , nothing is too large or too small, and the prices right. —I am, etc., . LAi BO UR. (To the Editor.) Sir,—Mr Large lias suggested the formation of a club in h< ixton. I presume of a social and in tclleetual character. “Labour” asks that the public become members of the local Labour branch. If one di xcidcd to join the latter, would it ir lean that he would have to subscr.il >e to the Labour, platform? Persi maily I would refuse to associat c myself with any organisation, no i natter at what social sacrifice, u foremost plank was lojaltj y to Ling and Constitution. —Yours, etc.,