LABOR’S COMING POLITICAL BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 May 1922, Page 4

LABOR’S COMING POLITICAL BATTLE.

The leader of the “Official”, or Extreme, Labor Party in tbe Dominion took it upon himself on Saturday night to sound the bugle call to his followers at a meeting held at Christchurch. It was exactly the same call as was made at the last general election. Incidentally, Mr. H. E. Holland, the leader who has seven colleagues in the House, made it clear that he not only wishes the “one big union” to materialise, but to have the benefit of its assistance, and he proclaimed his intention of insisting that the post and telegraph “workers” shall be included in the organisation. Even so, there is just a possibility that his insistence may not succeed any more than his ambition to be head of a Labor Government. Possibly he would be wiser to wait until he is in that position—in some other sphere—before presuming to dictate to the Government of the day. Evidently the brave show made by himself and his army of seven in the House—all generals —has an inspiring effect on Mr. Holland’s fertile imagination. It is almost a pity that these redoubtable seven are not tailors, and then they could have been counted as one, thus adding to the solidarity of the party. Again, Mr. Holland claims that votes for other parties at the election will mean votes for Mr. Massey. Far better so than casting votes for the advocates of one big union that stands for trade paralysis, industrial chaos and revolutionary tenets. If only this extremist, could realise the absurd and illogical nature of this claim, there might be some hope of his obtaining credit for possessing the necessary qualifications for leadership. He professes that his party is fighting Mr. Massey; yet his advice to the electors, if it means anything, can only be construed as an 'incentive to strengthen, and not weaken, the Reform Party. It is certainly considerate of him to postpone until after the elections “one of the greatest offensives against wages that the Dominion has known. Possibly Parliament may take the hint and prepare for dealing with such an offensive. Meanwhile Mr. Holland’s utterances may be taken at their just value. Happily, he has not the power of a Lenin or Trotsky to make the public do his bidding.