The Evening Star HURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1928. MR HOLLAND OPENS.

Evening Star, Issue 19994, 11 October 1928, Page 6

The Evening Star HURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1928. MR HOLLAND OPENS.

A North Island contemporary, in reviewing the past session, expressed tiro conviction that the Government would huvo como through it better it there had been more intelligent support from the general body ot members. For, argues the writer, a Parliament of higher average ability would have shown a more thorough grasp ot such matters as loan and taxation issues and the transport problem, which were lightly passed over, almost ignored, because constructive criticism is beyond the powers of the bulk ol members. It must bo admitted that Mr Holland, Leader of the Opposition, is a notable exception. The address which he delivered at Maslertoii last night in opening Labour’s election campaign is evidence not only of bis ability, but of his prodigious industry. It also suggested a tendency to moderation as an outcome of increasing years and political experience. This may in part be duo to Labour’s deep desire to impress on the electorates the party’s sense ol responsibility and litness for the office it hopes ultimately to attain, possibly—though not probably—at the coming elections Though there may be much that is contentious in Mr Holland’s speed), there is little if anything that is provocative ol downright bail feeling. However it may develop asperity later on, the election campaign has at least opened respectably

Yet there is one innuendo towards the close of Mr Holland’s address which might well have been omitted He said ho was convinced that every endeavour would be made by certain elements opposed to Labour to precipitate industrial turmoil before polling day. Wo are at a loss to know ex-

actly what is meant by this, but it is disappointing to hear a statement so out ol harmony with tho spirit of the National Industrial Conference held at Wellington early in the year. The same restraint in genetai marked references to the industrial situation during tho parliamentary session’s debates. The diplomacy shown by both tho Prime Minister and tho Labour Party in postponing attempted amendment of the arbitration system on tho eve of an election has been the subject of praise, since it might have proved dangerous to pursue positive action on n matter which had proved too intricate for the Industrial Conference itself. Wo in Now Zealand are extremely fortunate that our elections aio not being fought under the shadow of so lowering an industrial cloud us overhangs tho Australian Federal elections. How grave is tho position there few people here seem to realise. And lew people with any .sense of responsibility would wish to stir up similar industrial turmoil hcie for party political purposes. Meticulous care should be taken to fight our own elections strictly on their merits and to exclude disturbing influences from Australia.

Mr Holland expresses confidence in ( the future of New Zealand—with a ! proviso. Ho says that, ‘ given capable political government and efficient economic organisation, this country could carry 10,<100,1)00 people, but this stage nf organisation had not yet been reached.'' Nevertheless, a countiy with such a future ought to be steadilv extending its population-carrying capacity. At present that does ..ot seem to be the case. Mr Holland blames the Government, whose policy, ' ho declares. “ hr. resulted in an unemployment problem unparalleled in the history of the dominion,” and it is : “ in the main due to the immigration 1 system, tor which the Government is responsible.” Immigration may be a : contributing cause, but it is very far in-. deed from being the main cam ■ of nn-! employment. Earlier in his address Mr j Holland himself dealt with the condi- ] lions principally responsible. He him- | self mentioned that according to the Government Statistician's figures the number of persons cm; loyed on the land in New Zealand dropped by 12,359 between the years 1924 and ; 1927. The inaccessibility of the land ( to the man without considerable capi- ( tal; charges on the land, not so much by direct taxation as in the form of i interest, which preclude the holder j from employing the labour necessary ; for maximum production; the sending out of the country annually of great j sums to pay interest on an immense l public debt and tl - purchase money I on economically injudicious importations of luxuries—these are among the prime causes of unemployment. Our neighbour, Australia, has erred economically worse than ourselves, cultivating an almost chronic adverse } trade balance, besides piling up ihe public debt per head of population to an alarming degree. As a consequence, unemployment in Australia is infinitely more serious than here, even after allowing for the r lativc sizes of populations. One State, Queensland, admits paying 1)343,DUU i doles last year, I’he unemployment is by no means confined to the towns, in the interior many thousands of men are walking from station to station, getting a subsistence because of the system prevailing there, but no work. It is because of that state of affairs in tiie interior that the industrial conflict on the coast holds such grave possibilities. A question which Mr Holland mignt ask himself is in what degree are past Labour Governments in Australia responsible for things eventually coming to such a pass. i