POLITICAL QUIET IN HOLLAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 30 March 1938, Page 8

POLITICAL QUIET IN HOLLAND

RELIGION AS BASIS OF PARTIES [By Telegraph Preen Aanociatinn] WELLINGTON, 29th March. With most of its larger European neighbours in a state of turmoil, Holland, one of the few remaining strongholds of democracy, was comparatively free from strife, said Dr. Roosmale Nepveu, who arrived in Wellington by the Awatea this morning. "The Fascists are nothing, and the Communists—we don’t take much notice of them," Dr. Nepveu said. A few years ago there were 53 political parties in Holland, but the number had since been reduced. The most important remaining parties had their basis in religion rather than in political theories, and probably as a result there was little industrial trouble. Although non-combatant. Holland suffered much through the Great War, and was only now slowly recovering. Dr. Nepveu said that the shipbuilding industry was at present active, but most other businesses were not so fortunate. For 24 years, Dr. Nepveu, who is a doctor of Laws, was' burgomaster of Apeldoorn, a town 'of 70,000 people, and for 12 years before that he was burgomaster for other towns. The office is similar to that of Mayor.