MR H. E. HOLLAND, M.P.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14017, 21 October 1918, Page 4

MR H. E. HOLLAND, M.P.

"LABOUR'S DEMAND FOR A GENERAL ELECTION." There was a good attendance at. Everybody's Theatre last evening to hear Mr H. E. Holland, M.F. for Grey, speak on "Labour's Demand for a General Election." Mr R. V. 1kGlone occupied the chair. The chairman in introducing Mr Holland, said Labour's principle effort to to get a general election was on account of the ever-increasing cost of living. Mr Holland was received with applause. The speaker said that he was there to prove to his audience why a General Election was imperative in the early part of next year. Firstly, he would point out that the Labour Party had gained victories in three recent byelections. In Wellington North the Labour platform had reduced its shortage from 4500 votes to -440 and they would wipe it out altogether at the next election. In the Grey election he, the speaker, had been elected and his antagonists had challenged the result and the outcome of it was that tho petition collapsed in three days and had cost Mr Coates' party £BOO. In Wellington Central Mr Peter Eraser had gained the honours of the day in spite of the adverse criticism of the three Wellington papers. "A vote for Fraser is a vote for the Kaiser," was a common expression at the time of the Wellington Central election. Another candidate had introduced the sectarian question into the campaign. In spite of all this opposition Labour had won through, with a majority of (500 over the other candidates. There were only a very few members who really represented the people of their constituencies, as their contract for three years' service had lapsed. When the vote was given to the people it would mean the sentence of death being pronounced on the Massey-Ward administration. Labour also stood for the democratic vote of the people on the liqour question. The four issues on the preferential system were what they advocated and this had been endorsed by the Anglican Synod at Christchurch. The speaker stated that the supreme objective of the Labour movement must not, be sidetracked by any other issue, not even the liquor question. The speaker here gave a few examples of Avar profits gained by the New Zealand Government since the outbreak of hostilities. The Imperial Government had offered a 50 per cent, advance on pre-war prices for wool, but this had been declined and 55 per cent, demanded. This resulted that £14,000,000 had been the benefit, or an increase of 55 per cent, on what Germany was charged for wool prior to the war. Butter: Prewar price 107s lOd ewt. New Zealand Government refused 150s. Now 180s, with half the profits gained on the sale in England. A queue of a quarter of a mile long was often to be seen waiting to purchase %-lb butter in England. This the people of England had to pay an exorbitant price for, while the cool stores in New Zealand held large quantities. In regard to scheelite the. New Zealand Government was charging England 110 per cent, more than they charged Germany (the only customer) prior to the war. The speaker also gave instances of what he termed exploiting the people of England by our "Win the War Patriotic" Government. Beef, mutton, lamb and sheepskins were subject tcr severe comparisons. Mr Holland said that on the information he was able to obtain he proved that over £37,000,000 was New Zealand's war profits. This did not include several small commodities which he was unable to obtain information on. The value of a sovereign'' to-day was 13s 6M> in regard to three food groups only. That was to say that £1 9s 5%d is the purchasing price of goods that would have eost £1 prior to the war. Mr Holland pointed out that the Government Statistician sought a deal of his information from the business people, but he was going to the wrong source —he should go to the housewife and then he would find out the true position. "The Labour Party challenged the war legislation of this country, also the Conscription Act, which should never have been passed without first going to the people. The time was coming when all questions of national importance would go to the people before being passed by the House. Conscription had been pased in defiance of the people." There were .'SOO or 400 men in prison on account of their religious objections. There had been 14. men deported to tko front under most deplorable conditions, and the Labour Party was not going to stand by and see this kind of thing going on. The speaker made reference to the Wanganui Detention Barracks' enquiry and said his party were going to demand that tho finding of the enquiry be made public. ''The conscripting of female labour and the importation of coloured labour was written on the wall, but the party was not £oin£ to stand it,, and was going to fight it to tho last ditch.'' The speaker said hehad no antipathy to the coloured people. but he and his party were not going to allow the importation of coloured labour for exploiting purposes. The Labour Party would see that the promises given to the soldiers who have gone to the front would be honoured: that adequate pensions should be provided_and that suitable positions would be found for returning men. This session was going to be a fighting one as far as the Labour representation went and the speaker called for the support of the audience. The chairman then moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Mr Rod Boss and carried: —

That this mooting endorses tho Labour Party's demand of Parliamentary representation and the holding of ii General Election early next year: rind further endorses the Labour Party's petition in favour of four issues on the Liquor Poll and voting on the preferential system.''

A vote of thanks was accorded tho speaker and the meeting terminated.