INSULTING THE WORKERS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2513, 2 December 1922, Page 3

INSULTING THE WORKERS OF NEW ZEALAND.

MR HOLLAND’S WORD TWISTING. (To the Editor.) Sir, —We have just had handed to us a .leaflet issued on behalf of the Red Party’s candidates. At the top the word “Lies” is printed in large type. As it is printed at the “Maorihind Wjorker” office the word used is quite in keeping. The leaflet seeks to explain away a sophistical revolutionary utterance made by Mr H. E. Holland at Denniston. We will admit that Mi- Holland’s speech requires explanation as it is a most cunningly devised piece of sophistical twisting. Analysing the full statements, as given by the party itself, we find that what Mr Holland says amounts to this: (1) “The only alternative to the policy and tactics of the Labour Party was that of violence —the methods of insurrection and civil war.” (2) Political power would be captured by the workers’ by the methods of the Labour Party or by Civil War. (3) He was confident that the great changes would be accomplished b. v peaceable methods so far as the workers were concerned. (4) No thoughtful person in the working class movement would seriously advocate civil war. (5) The-only danger of violence was that which might come from the Capitalist class when the workers had won through at the polls. Now if anyone can show us a more deceitful piece of word twisting than these affirmations of Mr Holland we shall be much surprised. The mere suggestion that the workers would resort to Civil War, and that such was the only alternative to his party’s policy, are grossly insulting to the workers and electors of New Zealand. Mr Holland first makes two definite affirmations which are an incitement of the spirit of insurrection (probably to please the Communists on the West Coast); then he starts in |o tone down-by expressing opinions and falls back finallv on “the wicked capitalists” as a means of escape. We know Mr Ffarry Holland is an expert, in using words with a double meaning, and in constructing’ sentences so Itjhat they can be held to mean different things. A man with such a fatal gift is a danger to be guarded against. His insult to the workers in the mere suggestion that they would resort to Civil War is something the electors should take note of. We are, Yours, etc., N. Z. WELFARE LEAGUE.