PARTY POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24832, 4 February 1942, Page 4

PARTY POLITICS

BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGNS MR HOLLAND'S ACTIVITIES PRIME MINISTER'S CRITICISM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. "Mr Holland is obviously having a very good time and is thoroughly enjoying himself, fighting by-elections where there are no Government candidates or advocates to combat his statements. He apparently believes in trying to hit hard when there is no one to hit back," said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Fraser, to-night. "After his shadow-sparring exhibition in the Temuka electorate, the only suitable description of his performance in Hauraki is ' further foolishness,' which will be remembered as the title of one of Stephen Leacock's. entertaining books describing some such episodes as Mr Holland is figuring in at present to his own great satisfaction and enjoyment.

Party Tactics Alleged

"The claim that anything that canpossibly happen in Temuka or Hauraki can be construed as. either condemnation or support of the Government is ridiculous, ; but what is to be said of a Leader of the Opposition- who, after loud professions of anxiety to avoid party conflict at this critical time, goes, into electorates which the Government has decided it will not contest because of a genuine desire to avoid electoral contests and consequent strife and bitterness at a time when the men and women of all parties are joined in one cbmmbrt, bond - of' suffering, bereavement and danger, and his opponents being well but of the field, proceeds to indulge in political party tactics of a particularly petty nature? -•.. :■■■' ■ <> .-■ ''Mr Holland's-squaring up to nonexistent Government opponents in the political rings at Temuka and Hauraki, and his preparing to claim a knock?, out decision on election night -when the Government, which is not fighting the election and which has no candidate's name on the ballot paper, will not receive a single vote, because no elector can vote for the Government in the circumstances, would be amusing, even funny, in peace-time, but in face of the present serious situation such buffoonery is surely out of, place. Security of the Dominion ■ "Mr Holland says my silence after the Bay of Plenty election was eloquent. So it was; it was eloquent of the contempt I felt for the political partisans who were, prepared, to. snatch a political victory which could decide nothing as the result of the death of a man who gave:his life, for his country, for those who forced an electoral fight in the midst of casualty lists and against the spirit of the undertaking which resulted: in the postponement of the general, election. " There is something at the present time vastly more important than parties: or governments or oppositions, whether they get votes or do not get votes, and that is the security of the Dominion and the safety of its people,".Mr Fraser added. "In face of the present danger Mr Holland's complaints, which he endeavours so strenuously and with such futility to magnify into mountains of importance, become microscopic."