ON COMPARISONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 October 1928, Page 2

ON COMPARISONS

PREMIER'S POINTS FOR MR HOLLAND

DARGAVILLE, 24th October. "I am going to give them back something of their own stuff, so* that those associated with Mr Holland will know something about him," said the Prime Minister, amidst a chorus of "hear, hears" and' cheers, at his meeting at Paparoa. He said that at Dun.ed.iri Mr Holland had expressed his dislike of comparisons between New Zealand ant) Australia, stating that New Zealand should look after its own. problems and Australia should look after Australian problems. "1 do not wonder that they do not like comparisons," Mr Coates continued, "but they are going to get them, all the same, and, as for Mr Holland saying that we should .stick to New Zealand, let us have a look and see how he lias interfered in the affairs of people outside of this country. Did Mr Holland recall having acted as a, delegate from New Zealand, in 1921, to the conference in Australia, which had adopted the notorious 'red rule' resolution which had been the curse of Australia and New Zealand over since?" That conference, Mr Coates said, had agreed to admit Communists to its ranks, and one of Mr Holland's associates on that occasion was Mr Jock Garden, the man who had suggested that if the seamen got a" "scab" on board a ship, they should throw him overboard. Did Mr Holland remember his active participation, and sympathy towards the British seamen m their unofficial strike of 1925? Mr Coates said he hardly thought the memories cf the people of New Zealand were so short as to forget Mr Holland's attitude on that occasion. Again, did Mr Holland recall having forwarded a message to the British Labour Party when they formed a Council of Action—a movement which Mr J. H. Thomas disowned, as it was in his opinion defi nitely against the constitution? Did Mr Holland also remember opposing tie sending of British troops to Shanghai last year to protect British subjects? The Prime Minister further asked if the public would forget Mr Holland's attitude towards those who were concerned in the intrigue to undermine the Administrator in Samoa. Mr Holland had always associated himself with anything that savoured of revolution, and if any : one had any doubts as to whether the Labour Party had changed its attitude they had only to note the statement ol Mr J. A. Lee, the Labour candidate foi Auckland East, who on Tuesday night said that the Labour Party had had no change of heart. Mr Holland was Uie leader of the party with which his (Mr Coates's) opponent associated himself. They might say that they had changed, but the Prime Minister asked, "Could a leopard change its spots?" There was no doubt that they had both feet on the soft pedal.