MR. HOLLAND AT KELBURN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 16 February 1918, Page 8

MR. HOLLAND AT KELBURN

ON CONSCRIPTION. Mr. H. Holland addressed a meeting at Kelburn last night, Mr. P. Fraser presiding. There were about 150 people present, including numbers who do not reside in tho suburb. Mr. Holland devoted a considerable portion of his speech to attacks on tho "Win-the-War Government," charging them with failure in regard to the cost of living, and with being in league with food exploiters. He «stimatcd that on some few commodities 4o£ millions of war profits had been made by this country, and that if all commodities were counted he believed the total would be increased by fifteen million*; more. He again declared himself a "straightHiut opponent of conscription," reminding his audience that ajl his three opponents.,wero supporters of conscription. A voice: Would you agree to the aggression of Germany in New Zealand ? Mr. Holland: 'No, certainly not, and that is why wo object to conscription because the triumph of conscription in New Zealand means the triumph of Germany." Later in his speech Mr. Holland declared his policy in these words: "I am not in favour of'sending any man to tho front who does not Want to go." Professor Mackenzie , submitted a written question. Ho wrote that while admitting that most of Mr. Holland's viows on social and political questions appeared to be eminently reasonable, ho did not approve of Air. Holland's views on conscription. Professor Mackenzie suggested that a mail enjoying the benefits of organised society ought to be ready to defend that society by military service, provided he and his dependnnts were properly provided for by pensions. llr. Holland said that he could generally answer this question' in the affirmative. But the attitude of tho Labour movomeut was that tho people must havo the right to say whether a war was -just or not. Ho went on to spcak at somo length on the Internationalists' theme, declaring that socallod lovo : of country was very often a spurious patriotism. He ,declared that the Government had been wrong in introducing conscription without consulting the people. . If it were submitted to t-ho people they would vote it out by a tbree-to-one majority. A voice: Nover iii your life. Mr. Holland: The very fact that your Government won't let them vote, on it proves that. A voico: We're not Australians. Mr. Holland: It is jnst as well you are not Australians'. "Australia stands for freedom. After a number of questions had been asked a vote of thanks and confidence was carried. Voting was by show of hands. Fifty or more hands were raised to support the motion, and two to oppose it. As one man at the meeting put it, there were "lots of them neutral."