MR HOLLAND AND THE LIBERAL PARTY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18556, 17 May 1922, Page 6

MR HOLLAND AND THE LIBERAL PARTY.

’ TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —Your report of Mr Holland’s speech in the Otago Early Settlers’ Hall omitted all reference by the speaker to the strenuous opposition of Mr Massey and those associated with him to the Liberal legislation passed by what Mr Holland called the BallanceSeddon Governments. As Mr Ballance was in fils grave before Mr Massey was returned to Parliament, it would be interesting to know whv Mr Holland substituted the name of Mr Ballance for that of Sir J. G. Ward. It was the Seddon-Ward Government that pasted the Liberal legislation _ which Mr Massey and his party so persistently opposed. Evidently to mention Sir J. G. Ward as being Mr Soddon’s right hand man in the passing of sound liberal legislation did not suit Mr Holland’s purpose, which to throw dust in the eyes of his hearers when he asked them to accept on his ipse dixit” his emphatic statement that there was no line of demarcation ■ between Mr Massey’s party end the present Liberal Partv. Earlier in hie speech Mr Holland laboured to show that there was a distinct cleavage, and this was the clearest and most convincing part of hie speech. He condemns the Ward-Wilford Party for what he calls an abandonment of Liberal principles in joining with the Massey Party to form a National Government during the war I think it certainly redounded to the credit of the'Liberal Party that it united its forces with the Reform Party for the better discharge of the great reeponsibilty during the greot war. What would Mr Holland have done?—l am, etc.,.