AFTER THE FRAY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 302, 5 December 1931, Page 5

AFTER THE FRAY

MR HOLLAND'S HOME-COMING. “LABOUR VICTORY BALL.” By Telegraphs—Ureas Association Westport, Dec. 5. Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, returned to Westport yesterday. He was met several miles out by a large concourse, by whom he was escorted into town. At night he attended the Buller Labour Victory Ball, at which there was a very large attendance. On his entry he was greeted with cheers and the singing of “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” Speaking in response to the welcoming speech of the president of the Labour Representation Committee, Mr Holland reviewed the political situation as the election had left it. He said that the anticipated repercussion of the British election had not eventuated. The Labour Party had gained some seats and the Coalition and Independents had gone to the country with 60 members and had come back with 56. Tho Labour Party had gone out with 20 and had come back with 24. There had been no substantial change, but Labour alone had improved its position. The seats won from United by Reform and vice versa involved no fundamental principle. The changes were purely personal. New Zealand, he said, now had a Government with two heads and no policy. The Coalition had asked for and received a blank cheque and it was now a question of how the blank cheque would be filled in. The position was so utterly desperate in relation to unemployment and companion problems that Parliament should be called together at the earliest possible moment and the Government should be required, without delay, to formulate the policy it had promised from the hustings. Labour, he continued, had no cause to be dismayed with the election result. Notwithstanding the combination made for its defeat it had won additional seats and had missed others by significantly narrow majorities, while its aggregate vote had been substantially increased and its position as tho only possible alternative Government was permanently established.