“DISLOYAL LABOUR”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 502, 3 November 1928, Page 10

“DISLOYAL LABOUR”

MISS MELVILLE’S COMMENTS MR. HOLLAND CONDEMNED “Are we to continue the system of Government which has built up the life of this country control by citizens of their own property, with the minimum of interference by the State—or are we to welcome what is simply Socialism?’ This question was put to the electors of Roskill by Miss Ellen Melville, Reform candidate for Roskill, addressing an audience of about 50 in the Kingston Avenue Hall last evening.

She went on to criticise the Labour Party’s policy at some length and branched out into criticism of the leaders of the Party, saying that she thought Mr. Holland’s actions in regard to the recent troubles in Samoa to be highly discreditable. She also drew attention to the fact that the Labour candidates rarely spoke of “his Majesty’s Opposition”—the correct title—but merely called it “the Opposition,” and also to the fact that “God Save the King” was not sung at Mr. Holland’s recent meeting in the Town Hall.

She suggested that this was disloyalty, and said she thought it was deliberate. She considered that it was a shocking thing that such a man as Mr. Holland should ever have a chance of becoming Prime Minister.

Speaking of Sir Joseph Ward's proposal to borrow seventy millions, she said: “It is obvious that the mind which formulated that scheme is not in touch with the realities of life.” A minority in the audience gave Miss Melville a vote of thanks at the end of her address.