IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

Southland Times, Issue 18964, 11 June 1923, Page 5

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE

DOMINION’S REPRESENTATIVE LABOUR LEADER’S VIEW (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 10. Mr H. E. Holland in an address in the Trades Hall last night said he proposed to deal with the expressed intention of Mr Massey tq go to the Imperial Conference not, he expressed it, “as a delegate from , New Zealand, but as a dictator.” He (Mr Holland) did not think Buch a position was right because whatever Mr Massey had claimed before the last election he could not now hold that he represented the majority of the people of New Zealand. Even if Mr Massey did represent nine-tenths of the people he should not adopt such an attitude. However, he held office as f dictator of the people and had secured of fice on only a minority vote. If Mr Masse? did go Home he should certainly take witj him instructions as to NevV Zealand’s attitude with regard to the questions to be discussed at the Conference. He knew iMr Massey would oppose this contentioi and would hold out to go in the position of a dictator, but the people of New Zealand should not allow such a course to be pursued. Mr Massey should certainly carry with him very definite instructions, especially with regard to the Treaty of Versailles. Mr Holland deprecated any attempt being made to shorten the coming session of Parliament to enable Mr Massey, to attend the Conference. The session should be continued after he had left the Dominion. The trouble was, said Mr Holland, that Mr Massey’s majority in the House w r as so small and of so doubtful a nature that the Prime Minister did not think that the majority would be maintained unless ha were present to see to it himself. Mr Massey had said that New Zealand was financially, the soundest country in the world and if things were so satisfactory why should not the session continue after Mr Massey had left. Mr Massey should be instructed to promote the establishment of intimate relations with Russia. Personally, said Mr Holland, he was not opposed to New Zealand being represented at the Imperial Conference and if the Labour Government were in power he would favour New Zealand being represented at every one of them, but New Zealand’s representative should certainly take with him instructions regarding the will of the people on various questions of the day.