POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20418, 26 May 1928, Page 11

POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

THE GREY SEAT. ’ MR ' LAND’S PROMISE. {Special to Dah-t Tikes.) WELLINGTON, May 25. "As soon as Mr Webb is a free man I shall resign the seat,” declared Mr IL E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, in Greymouth on May 29, 1918,. ■when returning thanks for his election to the Grey seat. The by-election was rendered necessary by the trial and committal to prison of Mr P. J. Webb, Labour M.P., for his refusal to .perform his. military obligations after having been drawn in the military servce ballot and called up. Mr Webb lost his civil rights for ip years, as a conscientious objector, and that perod will elapse at the beginning of December next. The date is too lata for the general election, but Mr Holland would have the opportunity of contesting Grey and then resigning to allow Ms old colleague to take his place in House of Representatives, . ; But apparently Mr Holland such intention. National headquarters of the Labour Party indicate that- he intends to stand for his old electorate and to hold the seat if it is won. If he kept that promise of 10 years ago it would mean that some other member of the Labour Party would have to step down and allow Mr Holland to occupyhis seat in the House. And stern os is the discipline/ in the Labour ranks, there appears to be no one willing to commit political hari-kari in the causa of his leader. , ,