LABOUR’S VIEW

Southland Times, Issue 21087, 20 May 1930, Page 7

LABOUR’S VIEW

POLITICAL SITUATION

STATEMENT BY MR H. E. HOLLAND.

NO CHANGE IN ATTITUDE.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wairoa, May 19.

Referring to the existing political situation, Mr H. E. Holland said he thought that the main effect of the resignation of the Prime Minister would reflect itself through the United Party which had been built up around Sir Joseph Ward’s personality and wholly owed its continued existence to him. Its elements were so extremely diverse that with Sir Joseph no longer at its head, it was more than possible that it would soon find itself beset with internal troubles. That fact might easily hasten a political crisis. So far as the Labour Party was concerned, its declared attitude would not be changed. They would stand by the principles outlined in their decision at a special meeting of the party held in February last and confirmed at the annual Labour Conference at Easter. These include an advanced land settlement policy, together with conservation and encouragement of secondary industries, further absorption of the unemployed on works necessary to the public of a character including effective reading, back country areas and speedy completion of justifiable railway works. Where the necessary work were so undertaken, standard rates of pay would prevail and relief rates abolished. The creation of an Employment Board and unemployment insurance were items on the programme, also organization of the credit and overseas marketing of the Donfinion’s primary products along the lines of the British Government’s policy. They would press for these while the present Government remained in office, and a revision of the policy in Western Samoa. If they came into office, they would give legislative effect to these proposals. Mr Holland further said that Sir Joseph's retirement, the cause of which all deplored, could not be put forward as an excuse for delaying the meeting of Parliament or holding back any part of the legislation promised. In view of the appalling situation of unemployment and the importance of kindred problems almost equally serious, Parliament should be called together at the earliest possible moment. He suggested that the new Government would require time to make preparations for the session, but stated that statements were made in the Government’s programme that measures were well in hand and had not suggested that the Prime Minister’s resignation would mean a new programme. There was no reason why, without waste of time, the House could not get down to business.