NATIONAL LEADER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 224, 22 September 1943, Page 3

NATIONAL LEADER

PEN-PICTURE OF MR. HOLLAND ABILITY DEMONSTRATED IN PRIVATE LIFE What the result of the election will be is purely a matter for conjecture, but if there should be any major swing in public opinion, resulting in a change of Government, New Zealand would have a new Prime Minister. Since the National Party appears to be the logical alternative to the present Government, the new Prime Minister, in all probability, would be Mr. S. G. Holland. As one of the younger Parliamentarians, both in age and in length of service, Mr. Holland, until recently, has not been well known to the general public. He has been leader of the National Party less than three years, and until the present election campaign, owing to the conditions imposed by the war, had •iade few public speeches outside his own city of Christchurch. The present campaign, however, has brought him decisively to the front. Both on the air and in person he has proved himself a forceful and dynamic speaker, with a progressive outlook, a high standard of fairness and restraint, and a sense of humour which tempers many hard political thrusts.

For the Labour Party, it is somewhat ironic that the innovation of campaigning by radio, so profitable for its authors when the late Mr. M. J. Savage was their spokesman, has now turned to the benefit of their opponents. Mr. Holland, as proved by the contrast between the opening addresses of the two leaders, has considerable advantages over Mr. Fraser in addressing the unseen audience of listeners. New Zealander by Birth. A New Zealander by birth, Mr. Holland is not quite 50 years of age. He was born at Greendale, Canterbury. His father came from Yorkshire, his mother from Lancashire, and both are still alive. His father at that time operated a threshing and haulage plant, and used to drive his traction engine to different parts of the rural areas of Caterbury. Later Mr. Holland, senior, established his business in Christchurch, where he became well known in public life. He was Mayor of the city during the Great War, and his splendid work for soldiers and patriotic funds is well remembered. Sidney George Holland was one of a family of six. He had no special advantages of education, and after leaving the West Christchurch High School, at the age of 14 or 15, went to work for a hardware firm in the city, at a wage of 5s a week. Later he joined his father’s business, but after the Great War, using his gratuity as capital, started on his own account with one of his brothers. He enlisted as a gunner in 1915, and won his commission before going overseas. He left New Zealand as a lieutenant in charge of an artillery reinforcement, and was invalided home in 1917, after contracting a serious illness in France. He underwent a severe operation, and had a protracted convalescence, but eventually his recovery was complete, so much so that in later years he was able to play hockey for Canterbury and the South Island. Entry Into Politics. His father was elected member for Christchurch North in 1925, and he acted as his secretary, Mr. Holland, senior, resisting strong challenges by the Rev. J. K. Archer and the late Mrs. McCombs, held the seat for ten years, but just prior to the 1935 election had a severe fall, breaking several bones. As he was 74, his doctors advised his retirement, and at the eleventh hour, only 14 days before the poll, another candidate" had to be lolnd. Up to that time, S. G. Holland had had no thought of entering politics, but he was pressed to stand, and won the seat by a margin of £94 votes from Mr. R. M. McFarlane, Mayor of Christchurch at the time.

In the House he proved himself to be a fluent and resourceful speaker. His maiden speech, on a subject he knows well, the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. attracted much attention. In it, as fitting an employer noted for a progressive attitude toward his staff, he voiced such liberal sentiments I hat there were cries from the Government Benches of “Come over here. You belong to us!” These remarks afford a rather striking contrast to the recent charge byMr. Semple that Mr. Holland was “the most implacable enemy of the working class that he (Mr. SempleL had ever known.”

A tireless worker and keen debater, Mr. Holland soon became one of the leading figures on the Opposition benches, and when the demand for a new and younger leadership had to be faced by his party, he was the logical and almost inevitable choice. As Leader, he entered upon an unusually difficult and trying period, having to face not only the normal problems of leading a greatly outnumbered party, but also the complications imposed by the war on the New Zealand political situation. Business Ability. Mr. Holland and his brother are partners in a manufacturing business which makes such things as garden sprays and pumps, but latterly has been almost entirely engaged on warwork. Profit-sharing between owners and employees has been in vogue for the last fourteen years, and has been succesful from all points of view, not least that of the men employed. In 1920 Mr. Holland married Miss Florence Drayton, and they have four children. The oldest, Lieut. Eric Holland, who was in a bank before joining the Army, is serving overseas. The second son. Geoffrey, has just left school ami is in his first year a medical student. There are two girls, Jocelyn and Lois, both still at school. One of his brothers, Percy Holland, was killed in the Great War. Another brother. H. E. Holland, went to Adelaide as a young man and became a successful business man there. On first arriving in that city he was amazed to be confronted by a large poster which read: “H. E. Holland is coming.’ He discovered that there was another H. E. Holland, a prominent socialist lecturer, later well known as Leader of the New Zealand Labcv.r Party. Interest in Sport. S. G. Holland was not only an active and skilful hockey player, but took a prominent part in the administration of that game, and started a paper, the Bulletin, which circulated among New Zealand hockey associations, and rendered useful service. In 1932 he was manager and coach of the New Zealand hockey team which had an unbeaten tour of Australia, defeating Australia in a test match by the record score of 7 to 0. He is president of the Elwood Tennis Club, Christchurch, anefcwas steadily improving his golf handicap, getting down toward single figures, before his increasing politcal responsibilities left him but rare opportunties to play. For relaxaton, when he can get it, he usually goes to his farm at Motunau, Nprth Canterbury. He bought this property three years ago, and in its management has applied the profitsharing end co-partnership principles which have been so effective in his business. A marked increase, not only in the farm’s output, but also in the quality of its production, has proved striking testimony to the success of his ideas. People closely associated with Mr.

Hoiland have intense respect for his industry, driving force, and powers of concentration. He usually arrives at Parliament Building about 9.15 in the morning and rarely leaves much before midnight. He has always been conscientious in his attendance in the House. Working in his office, he deals systematically and expeditiously with a large volume of correspondence, and although under heavy pressure, is never flurried or ill-humoured.