MR. HOLLAND’S TOUR

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 9

MR. HOLLAND’S TOUR

31 Meetings In 23 Days

About 28,000 electors attended meetings held by the Leader of the National Party, Mr. Holland, in his Deminion election tour, excluding his final two meetings in his own electorate, Christchurch North. “Attendances everywhere exceeded expectations, based on reports .that the people were not iutrested in politics,’ said Mr. Holland yesterday. “The. lively interest which is being taken in politics today would be surprising to those who do not seek' the reasons. I have bad evidence that the present Government has not pleased the people and also that they are looking for an alternative. The release of the National I J arty’s policy gave a stimulus to the campaign hnd the party is warranted in feeling highly encouraged by the response to it.”. The second reason, said Mr. Holland, for the growth of interest in the cam- 1 paign was that the people were agreeable to listen to a progressive policy offered us an alternative but that they were m no mood for any speeches or campaigning which would cause disaffection and strite in the community, which was absorbed in one effort —the winning of the war. Those.who had believed that an election could not be held without dividing the people would now admit that they were wrong. . —■ . He hud addressed 31 meetings m -o days, during which he had travelled upward of 4000 miles and the enthusiastic receptions everywhere by overflowing audiences had been a real tonic to himself, personally, and to the party supporters everywhere.