MR. HOLLAND CONFIDENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1949, Page 5

MR. HOLLAND CONFIDENT

PREDICTS WIN FOR HIS PARTY AT El ECTIONS CONTACTS MADE IN AUSTRALIA. WELLINGTON, Last Night (P.A.) —Confidence in the prospects of the National Party at the General Election was expressed by the Leader oi the Opposition, Mr. Holland, in replying this evening to a welcome extended to him by the members oi the National Club on his return from a six weeks’ visit to Australia. He said one half of one per cent, swing over of votes as sufficient to put the National Parly into office. Mr. Holland also revealed that he and the Leader of the Federal Opposition (Mr. Menzies) had reached agreement on a number of vitally important questions, Contact was also to be established between the National Party organisation and its counterpart in Australia. Mr. and Mrs. Holland and Mr. T. G. Wilkes, Dominion secretary of the National Party, and Mrs. Wilkes, returned to Wellington today by the Monowai from Sydney. A busy programme awaited Mr. Holland and immediately he came ashore he held a Press conference at which he gave some impressicn. of his visit. In t'V afternc.jn he attended an afternoon tea reception by the acting Prime Minister (Mr. Nash) in honour of the distinguished English publisher, Sir S. Anley Unwin, and later he spoke at a reception given by the National Club before his departure tonight by inter-island express steamer for the south. In between these engagements Mr. Holland had a large number of interviews with Parliamentary colleagues and callers. Dr. O. C. Mazengarb, president of the club, who presided at the welcome, said the members of the National Party were solidly united under Mr. Holland as leader of the party. The party was not rent asunder by past associations with Communists. They were able to look forward to the next election firm, united, and confident in their leadership under Mr. Holland. "We have no traditions we are ashamed of,” said Mr. Holland. "I went on this tour because I thought I might be rather next year to spare the time and to see if we could discover anything of value to us in the fighting of an election campaign, so that we can get the type of Government we stand for.. and to see if we could learn something that may be of advantage to us in administering the affairs of this country Our prospects are good. They never have I been so good. An increasing number 'of people believe that the principles for which we stand are right. "Don't let us slacken our effort." added Mr. Holland. “Our victory is : in sight, and if we can make one third -’of the progress we made at the last I election our victory is assured, with | a substantial working majority."

I Mr. Holland said that although he could not reveal the full details Mr. ; Menzies and he had reached agreei ment on a number of vitally import- ; ant questions. They had reached I agreement on their approach to a i common problem. Mr. Menzies would j decide what method he would adopt, leaving him (Mr. Holland) to decide i what was necessary in his case. They i had decided to establish contact between the two of them and between the two party organisations. Mr. Holland said that no leader of I a political party had ever enjoyed (greater loyalty and support than he. , lie had come back refreshed and con- ’ vinced that if given the reins of ofl lice he could give them a much better ' Government than there was today. 1 During his visit Mr. Holland met the Prime Minister Oi Australia (Mr. Chifley), four State Premiers, and i nine Opposition lenders He said that (none could have been more helpful, 'or given him a better analysis of I world affairs than had Mr. Chifley. . .