MRS. H. E. HOLLAND

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1937, Page 10

MRS. H. E. HOLLAND

Grey Labour Reception LARGE GATHERING. Mrs H. E. Holland, who has been visiting the West Coast, and who leaves to-morrow for Wellington en route to her home in Australia, was welcomed to Greymouth at a largely - attended gathering of members of the Greymouth Branch of the New Zealand Labour Party last evening. Many fine tributes were paid to her, and to the memory of her late husband, Mr H. E. Holland, former Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. The president of the Greymouth Branch, Mr P. O’Farrell, was in the chair, and tendered apologies on behalf of Mr J. O’Brien, M.P., and Mrs O’Brien, and a number of others. Mr O’Farrell expressed delight at the opportunity to welcome Mrs Holland back to Greymouth, and said that the gathering showed that Greymouth had not forgotten the work of Mrs Holland’s revered husband. He said that Mrs Holland had visited New Zealand to be present at the unveiling of the national monument to the memory of Mr Holland. A musical programme was then presented, Miss Moira McSherry, L.T.C.L., being at the piano. The following rendered songs: Miss Doreen Donovan, "Heavenly Night”; Mrs V'. Cogswell, “One Fleeting Hour and “God Remembers Everything”; Mr J. Duffy, “Down the Vale”, “A Bachelor Gay”; and the vocal duet, “Old Rustic Bridge by the Mill” was given by Miss Donovan and Mr T. Clarke. Recitations were given by Misses Nance McKane and P. Kiely. Community singing was led by Mr J. Duffy. Miss Mary O’Farrell presented Mrs Holland with a bouquet of red roses, and the presentation of an envelope of notes Was made by the chairman. SPEECHES OF WELCOME. After supper had been served, the chairman said that they were gathered to honour Mrs Holland, and at the same time to honour the memory of her late revered husband. All present would agree that few men deserved honour more richly than did the late Mr H. E. Holland, whose life had been one of unremitting toil and struggle to improve the conditions of the workers of New Zealand. New Zealand had shown its gratitude by raising to his memory a bronze monument which would endure as long as memories lasted. Every man knew that his life partner was his greatest help in times of adversity and despondency, and of no man was this more true than of the late Mr Holland. Mrs Holland, too, had conferred a great benefit on New Zealand by her ministrations to one of the most notable men who had ever lived in this country. Mr O’Farrell referred to the manner in which the late Mr Holland took part in the Waihi strike, and to its brutality, and said that he had endured one long struggle against public opinion and the press of New Zealand which would have broken the heart of many another man. Mr Holland was comparable with the tiller of the soil who sowed but did not reap the harvest, for the Party’s late Leader had passed away before his work had come to fruition. Those who were left were benefiting by Mr Holland’s work, and the good things that were being done in New Zealand today were but parts of the ideals of Mr Holland. Mrs Holland was now leaving after a short visit to New Zealand the scene of her husband’s greatest labours, and he could assure her that Mr Holland’s mortal remains and his memory had been left in safe keeping. If she ever visited New Zealand again, he felt sure that she would find the memory of Mr Holland as green as evex - it was. Mi- O’Farrell concluded by wishing Mrs Holland a pleasant voyage back to Australia, and every happiness in life. Hon. James Goodall, M.L.C., sa ! ' w that he was proud to welcome Mr_ Holland to Greymouth, and also to wish her “God speed” on her journey back to Australia. Mr Goodall said that he had known her husband for very many years, and had worked with him, but it was quite impossible to do justice to the great man that Mr Holland had proved to be. It would be a long time before New Zealand had another man of the late Mr Holland’s calibre, and the Labour Movement to-day was missing him more than anyone could tell. There was no doubt that the Government was doing good work, but all of their work was due to Mr Holland’s services. They were doing their best to make things a bit better for every class of the community, all of whom would feel the benefit of the legislation which had been passed. If the Government was given the chance which it rightly deserved, they would have still better legislation in the future. All of the present Government’s legislation had been founded on the ideals of Mr Holland, whose memory would ever be revered. Mr Goodall wished Mrs Holland a happy future in Australia. Mr A. H. McKane assured Mrs Holland that there was the greatest warmth felt for her on the West Coast where Mr Holland had been so well and favourably known for many years. He had spent many years ministering to the needs of every section of the community in this part of the district, but his mind was working all the time for the greater interests of the people of New Zealand. They all realised that Mr Holland’s work had been his wife’s work too, and in every part of New Zealand it was known that in the years of their married life there had existed the greatest spirit, of friendship and comradeship. Mr’ McKane recalled his earlier meeting with Mr Holland in Australia, and said that the latter’s name was on everyone’s lips at Broken Hill at the time of the big strike there. Mr Holland had fought the battle of thousands of workers lone-handed on that occasion, and everyone knew of the great fight he had put up for the men. Could they do other than honour the memory of Harry Holland, asked Mr McKane? They welcomed Mrs HoL land, knowing the part she played for the benefit of other people. They all realised what a mother had to put up with to rear a young family as Mrs Holland had done, and with Mr Holland’s memory they would remember Mrs Holland in generations to come. Mr Holland had proved to be one of the greatest men New Zealand had known, and they deeply regretted that he had passed away before his task had been completed. Miss K. Spencer, on behalf of the lady members of the party, extended a warm welcome to Mrs Holland, and

endorsed the remarks of the other speakers. Mr J B. Kent expressed pleasure at the opportunity of paying tribute to the helpmate of Mr Holland. It was too soon after his demise to realise the value of Mr Holland’s services to the Dominion and to the world. In years to come, when the results of his labour had reached fruition, they would he able to appreciate Mr Holland’s work. Of all the Labour leaders the speaker had met, he knew of none to equal Mr Holland, who, through his own exertions, and the help of his wife, had laid the foundations of something which would eventually benefit the whole world. Mrs Holland had the compensation of his memory, and of actually seeing for herself the wonderful work which had been accomplished on the foundations laid by Mr Holland. He hoped that she would enjoy all that the world could give her. Mr J. Scott recalled his earliest associations with the late Mr Holland when he first visited Greymouth, and when he was elected to Parliament for Grey. He trusted that Mrs Holland would be spared long enough to see her husband's ideals put into thorough practice in New Zealand. Messrs J. Coyle, J. R. Anderson, L. B. Hutchinson, H. Harvey, J. Pringle and W. Wallwork also spoke. Replying on behalf of Mrs Holland, Miss Mary Anderson said that their guest had expressed her gratitude at the tributes paid to her late husband. She was unable to express herself, but wished to say that in her heart of hearts she was deeply grateful. She wished those present to know that she would never forget Westland, the scene of her husband’s labours, and its people. She felt gratified to them all for their presence, and was happy in the fact that, going back to Australia, she would know that her late husband’s memory lived in the hearts of the people of Westland. That was now her greatest satisfaction in life, and she would express herself thus: “To live in the hearts of those w« leave behind is not to die.” Mrs Holland was actorded musical honours, and after Mr J. Duffy had sung “Mary,” the chairman thanked the artists for their assistance, and mejnbers for being present in such large numbers. The singing of “Auld Lang Syne” brought a happy gathering to a close. Mrs Holland farewelled each member of the party individually before the gathering dispersed.