HIS LAST JOURNEY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 15, 12 October 1933, Page 10

HIS LAST JOURNEY

Funeral of Mr. Holland

BIG CROWD ATTENDS

All Sections Represented

MEMORIAL SERVICE

All sections of the community yesterday paid their last respects to the late Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, when his body ■ was taken from the vestibule, »> Parliament House to its final resting place in the Bolton Street Cemetery. Parliament grounds, the adjacent streets and the cemetery were crowded with people. From I’arlianient House the cortege proceeded to St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral in Mulgrave Street for a short memoria l service, and from the Pro-Cathedral to the cemetery.

From the catafalque in the vestibule of the main entrance to Parliament House, where the body had lain in state for the previous 28 hours, the casket containing the remains of Mr. Holland was carried down the steps to the hearse by six Labour members, Messrs. M J. Savage, E. J. Howard, D. G. Sullivan, W. E. Parry, R. Semple, and F. Langstone. The steps were Hanked by a guard of Parliamentary messengers, and as the procession passed through the doorway a military guard standing nearby with arms at the reverse came to the present. Behind the casket walked members of the late Mr. Holland s family, and then came Sir Cecil Day, representing the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe. Three lorries were required to carry the mass of beautiful floral emblems. Long before the funeral was due to start, thousands of people had gathered in Parliament grounds, while streets in the vicinity were lined with spectators. Trumpeters having sounded the "Reveille,” denoting the life after death, the cortege moved slowly off via Molesworth Street to St. Paul’s ProCathedral in Mulgrave Street. Leading the cortege was the Port Nicholson Band, which played "The Garland of Flowers” as departure was taken from Parliament grounds.

At the Pro-Cathedral,

On account of the enormous crowd which it was known would wish to attend the'memorial service at the Pro-Cathedral, the entrance gates were guarded by the police from an early hour in the afternoon. Only representatives of Government departments,

local bodies, and those there officially were admitted to the' nave. The side 1 seats near the choir, however, were thrown open to the public, and were filled an hour before the service started. The main throng of the mourners did not reach St. Paul’s until the funeral cortege arrived. Those to arrive first were the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. ' W. Forbes, members of the Ministry, members of the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council. The front pew in one block was occupied by Sir Cecil Day (official secretary to the Governor-General), the Prime Minister, Sir Charles Statham (Speaker of the House of Representatives), and Sir Walter Carncross (Speaker of the Legislative Council). On arrival at the Pro-Cathedral, the casket was received by the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. T. H. Sprott. The coffin was followed by the chief mourners, Messrs. Henry and Roy Holland, sons, and Mrs. Forman, daughter, and her husband, who occupied the front pew in the central block. There, too, were the Labour members of Parliament. The service was conducted by the Bishop, the Rev.. C. Carr, M.P. for Timaru, reading the familiar lesson from St. Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. The full choir sang the psalm, and all united in singing the hymn "Abide With Me.” Mr. Robert Parker presided at’the organ.

Some of Those Present

Apart from the Ministerial and Parliamentary parties, which filled half the church, the -Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop), members of the City Council, and all the heads of the municipal departments attended in a body. Others present in the church were: Sir Henry Buckleton. Rev. Solomon Katz, Rabbi of Wellington, Mr. M. M. Heinemann, president of the Jewish Synagogue, Rev. A. J. Seamer, president and Mr. S. T. S. Martin, secretary, of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, Messrs. W. Penselcr, German Consul, Armand Nihotte, Belgian Consul, N. Nelson, chairman Fire Board, A. D. Kerr, chairman Chamber of Commerce, J. Murray, Commissioner of Stamps. P. N. Verschaffelt Public Service Commissioner, Dr. Gray, In-spector-General of Mental Hospitals, Messrs. M. Fraser, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, G. G. Hodgkins, T. E. Y. Seddon, C. W. Earle. C.M.G.. C. M. Luke. J. Pearce Luke. J. Curtis. L. and W. Blundell, 11. 11. Miller. J. W. Jack, H. D. Bennett. J. and I*. Myers, Mr. A. E. Briggs and F. W. Weston (Hansard staff). Dr. G. Scholefield and W. S. Waiicbop (Parliamentary Library), Professor Kirk, Rev. D. C. Bates, .South African Veterans’ Association, Dr. Reakes, Agricultural Department, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell. Auditor-General, Messrs. G. McNamara, secretary Post and Telegraph Department, S. S. Dean, J. Glover, Dr. R. Campbell. Begg, Mr. Justice Blair, Chief Judge Jones, Native Land Court. Messrs. W. A. Sutherland, Wellington Automobile Club, H. R. Sellers. N.Z. Racing Conference. I’. Coyle. Council of the N.Z. Licensed Victuallers’ Association. J. Stellin, M. Burnett. Wellington Free Kindergarten Association. S. W. M. Stilling, Australian National Travel Association. IT. G. Teaglc. W. M. Luke. G. P. H. Davidson. North Island Hide. Skin and Tallow Buyers’ Association.

Picturesque Scene.

Perhaps the most picturesque note • struck was when the Waikato and other visiting Maoris, the women wearing chaplets of green leaves and the men wearing some very fine kiwi and wild pigeon mats, entered the Pro-Cathedral. Mr. Klngi Tahiwi, one of the Otaki Natives, took his place in the choir. The service at the Pro-Cathedral was not. a long one. Again the bearers took up the coffin and bore it reverently to the hearse, a sight witnessed by an immense crowd that seemed to fill the whole of Mulgrave Street. Slowly the cortege formed up, and, to the music of “A Garland of Flowers,” from the band, a start was made on the last Journey. Aitken Street. Molesworth Street. Lambton Quay, the Parliamentary grounds, Wellington Terrace, Bolton and Kinross Streets were densely thronged with many thousands of peo-

pie. It is estimated that the cortege must have been a mile long, lor when the hearse drew up alongside the open grave, a few yards on the northern side of the Seddbn Memorial, the procession could be seen in the distance turning into Lambton Quay by the Hotel Cecil, and two Dead Marches, and two muffled drums could be distinctly beardone from the 'Waterside Workers’ Silver Band, which had reached the graveside, and one from the Trainways Band away below in Bowen Street. The effect'was as striking as it was unusual.

Ministers of the Crown and members of Parliament stood in close proximity to the graveside as the Bishop of Wellington read the service, and all round, on every point of vantage, were crowds of interested spectators, who, owing to the broken configuration of the ground, had a good view of the final scene. As soon as the service was over, the wailing of the Maoris was heard—a wild strange cry of grief and farewell to a well-loved friend. As the officials drew away and the crowds pressed closer to secure a last look the Waterside Workers’ Silver Band played with real feeling and exquisite modulation the old hymns “Nearer My God to Thee” and “Abide With Me.” An hour after the service finished, at 3.45 p.m., there were still people filing past the grave on the sunny hillside.

Senders of Wreaths. Among the hundreds of wreaths which were forwarded were those from the following Chief and people of Ngatiporou tribe; the Maori Ethnological Board; Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata; chief and people of Arawa tribe'; the Native Department ; chief and people, Tuwharetoa tribe; Bertha Whyte; the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the Ministry; the Speaker, members, and staff of House of Representatives; Koingi, Koroki, Mahuta, and Waikato people; the Governor-Gen-eral and Lady Bledisloe; New Zealand Workers’ Union ; / Mr. and Mrs. P. G. Guy,' Feilding; comrades from Waimarino’; Mrs. anil Mr. George Huntly; Hamilton branch Miners’ Union; Northern Miners’ Union; Mrs. L. R. Elvey, 77 Lake Road. Franklin; Ladies’ Nursing Division, Huntly; Mr. and Mrs. Bright; mayor, councillors, and burgesses, Borough of Huntly-; Palmerston North branch of Labour Party; E. Neary, president Waimarino Labour Representation Committee, Manunui; Huntly railway staff; Huntly friends ; family wreath ; from the Labour Party; Hon. J. G. Coates and members of the Reform Party; Westport ■Workers’ Union; Governor-General’s staff; Westport Watersiders’ Union; Wellington Labour Representation Committee ; Wellington District Freezing ■Workers’ Union; private secretaries to Ministers of the Crown; Miramar branch N.e\v Zealand Labour Party; women cleaning staff, nightwatchmen, and staff of Bellamy's; messengers and orderlies of Parliament Buildings; Greymouth Borough Council and citizens of Greymouth; Greymouth Watersiders’ Union; Speaker and members of the Legislative Council; Fabian Club, Auckland; National Executive, New Zealand Labour Party; Junior League, New .Zealand Labour Party; Maori members of Parliament ; Hokitika Borough Council; Westport Labour Party ; Otago L.R.C.: executive and members A.S.R.S.; Borough Council and citizens of Runanga ; Wellington Tradese and Labour Council; members Wellington Storemen and Packers’ Union ; Mrs. P. J. Griffin and nieces; Wellington South Labour Party; Wellington Tramways Union; Westport branch, Plunket Society; Mr. A. E. Davy; Cobden Town Board and citizens of Cobden; Grey Valley Mine Workers’ Union; Mr. and Mrs. Herd and Thelma; West Coast Engine Drivers’ Union; West Cooperative Coal Miners; Ross Borough Council and citizens of Ross; United Mine Workers of New Zealand; members of Inangahua Gold and Coal Miners’ Reef; the Labour women’s branch, Wellington; Grey County Council; Kumara Borough Council and citizens; Westland Timber Workers’ Union; members of Parliamentary Press Gallery; Borough Council and Citizens of Brunner; proprietors of the “Evening Post”; members of railway staff, Westport section ; chairman and. members Government Railways Board; United Political Organisation ; Westpost Borough Council and citizens: chairman and members Inangahua.County Council; N.Z.R.S.A.; State Miners’ Union; Millerton Miners’ Union; Upper Hutt branch New Zealand Labour Party; Council of Fire and Under writeiw’ Association; executive and members P. .and T. employees; Grey Lynn. Auckland, branch, New Zealand Labour Party; National Timber Workers’ Union; Mr. and Mrs. Dunningham; Grey Valley Deputies’ Union; Syrian community; Mr. and Mi's. P. Mahoney; New Plymouth branch New Zealand Labour Party; Terrace End branch New Zealand Labour Party; New Zealand Newspapers Ltd; Returned Soldiers’ Camps, Beach Road and Soldiers’ Road, Paraparaumu ; Westland County Council; Westport Watersiders’ Labourers’ Union; Westport General Labourers' Union; Shannon branch of the Labour Parfy; Denniston Miners’ Union : Wellington 'Watersiders’. Union: Mr. McHardy Forman ; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Chapman; Mr. J. Stewart; M. J. Reardon; Mr. and Mrs. S. Paul, Club Hotel, Westport; Mr. and Mrs. R. Hickford, Westport; Mr. and Mrs. J. O’Brien, M.P., Greymouth; Ohakune branch of the Labour Party; the Irish National Party; Mrs. and Mn. Schadrick, Westport; Unemployed Women's Workers’ Association ; the Hansard staff; New Zealand Federation of Manufacturers’ Association; W. Tuoby; Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Ward; New Zealand Farmers’ Union; Westport Farmers’ Union and Buller Dairy Co.; Mayor, Councillors and Citizens of Wellington ; Mr. E. Kennedy and family: Cooks’ and Stewards' Union. Auckland; president and executive, Stewards’ Union ; Jim and Margaret Thorn; .Ladies’ Auxiliary Reform Political Party; “Grey River Argus” and staff; P. C. Webb; 'Westland L.R.C.; Sandringham branch, Roskill; "Grey RivOr Argus” Co.; Dunedin South branch, New Zealand Labour Party; Grey Labour Party: Barrytown friends and supporters; chairman, councillors, and inhabitants Hutt County: the Mayor, councillors and citizens of Christchurch ; Hokitika Labour Party: Mr.'Clay and family; Wellington Drivers’ Union; New Zealand Employers’ Federation: Enginedrivers, Tunnellers and Brewery Workers; chairman and members, Geraldine County Council; Mr. and Mrs. F. 0. WheelerDouglas, Lower Hutt; members Wellington hotel workers: members Canterbury hotel workers; Wellington Furniture Trades Union; Dominion Sportsmen’s Association ; Mr. and Mrs. J. Glover and family. Brooklyn: Department of Labour; Theatrical Employees’ Sick, and Benefit Society; Lady Sidey; Wellington Workers’ Federation; members of staff, Buller County Council; members of staff, Buller Hospital Board; New Zealand Alliance of Labour; president and members. Buller Licensed Victuallers’ Association; Buller Rugby Football. Union ; Film Exchanges Association of New Zealand : New Zealand Federated Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Industrial Association of Workers; Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, Wellington city branch; Hutt railway workshops; Feilding branch. New Zealand Labour Party: Lady Pomare and family; New Zealand Shop Assistants’ Federation ; Wellington North Branch. Labour Party: Mocra friends; Moera Labour Party branch; Buller Progress League; 11. and E. Morgan. 'Westport; National Rifle Association; New Zealand Tradesmen’s Association; Rifle Clubs Executive: Westport School of Mines; National Timber Workers’ Union, Rotorua; Greek community .of Wellington; Polynesian Society; chairman and members, Wellington Harbour Board: members of the Australian Society; Mr. P. Callagan and family; Mr. and Mrs. ScottRamsay; chairman and members. Auckland Harbour Board; National Council Licensed Trade of New Zealand: friends at Palmerston North; Housewives’ League, Palmerston North: Government Printer and staff of Printing and Stationery Department; Mr. J. Mcßride and family. Ngakawau; the Grey Electric Power Board ; directors of the “New Zealand Worker” Printing and Publishing Company; staff of the “New Zealand Worker” Printing and Publishing Company: Mr. and Mrs. McEnnis. Broadway. Miramar; Foxton branch, New Zealand Labour Party; Inter-branch Social Committee. Wellington ; Central Branch, New Zealand Labour Party, Wellington. I