The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1933. LABOUR'S LEADER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 238, 9 October 1933, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1933. LABOUR'S LEADER.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that ice can do

"What shadows we are! What shadows we pursue!" These words of the greatest of our political philosophers are recalled when "the sound of Death's imperishable wing" comes swiftly and unexpectedly. For a moment the full tide of life is hushed, and everything seems dwarfed in the presence of the visitation. But Henry Holland, to whom the summons came so suddenly yesterday, would himself protest that they did scant justice to the high importance of his cause and the devotion ho gave to it. There was nothing shadowy in the vision formed by "Harry" Holland, as he was called by friends and foes alike, of a new world in which economic and social inequalities would be smoothed out and mankind would know such happiness as it had never known before. His Socialism was clear-cut, and his belief in it strong and unswerving. His whole life was devoted to what ho was passionately convinced was the true emancipation of the wage-earner, and he never spared himself in the pursuit of this ideal. He faced death with the same courage that ho faced life, and though he would have wished for a longer span of years in which to carry on his work, the kind of end that camo to him was what he would have chosen.

The whole of Mr. Holland's life was given to the causes of Labour and Socialism. By the time he became prominent in the New Zealand industrial and political worlds he had had much experience of active work in Australia, and was ranked as an extremist. When he entered Parliament the war was in its last year, and his views on the question that overshadowed all others were opposed to those of the vast majority of New Zealand. Yet not only did he become Leader of His Majosty's Opposition, but he was recognised by all as the man best qualified for the post; and under his leadership the party greatly strengthened its position. The passing of time had something- of the same effect on his status in the country as it had upon Sir. Ramsay MaeDonald's in Britain, and one cannot doubt that a long period of Parliamentary responsibility moderated Mr. Holland's attitude towards problems of the day. Certainly as Leader of the Opposition he was a strict constitutionalist. The Prime Minister has paid a tribute to his knowledge of Parliamentary procedure, his zonl in upholding the dignity of the House, and his absolute trustworthiness. No leader ever took his work more seriously. He worked at all hours and attended carefully to every detail of his duties. Like others, he was the victim of a Parliamentary system of whose imperfections he was a frank critic, a system that at times places far too heavy a strain upon members, and especially leaders. Colonial democracy is harder upon its servants than that of the Mother Country. Had Mr. Holland taken more care of his health he might have lived many years longer, but that was not his way; work came first, and lie toiled unceasingly. A less austere man might have made a wider and stronger popular appeal; on the other hand, Mr. Holland's integrity and devotion to duty, coupled with unusual intellectual gifts, were a valuable asset to his party, and in the party itself he inspired affection as well as trust. In his studiousness he set an example to all parties, for he was one of the best-read men in politics, and it is significant that he and Mr. Downic Stewart, who is probably the most widely informed of all members, were close friends. One of his relaxations was writing , verse, and it was characteristic of his crusading spirit that most of what ho wrote was strongly didactic, but he had also a deep love of Nature. His passing is a severe loss to the Labour Party, and the whole countrj ,, , irrespective of party and class, will join in expressing sympathy with all whom he led, in and out of Parliament, and in paying tribute to a leader whose life was governed by principle and who gave unremittingly devoted service to the cause ho embraced.