The Last Rites

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7285, 12 October 1933, Page 7

The Last Rites

Faneral of the Late ■ Mr H. E. Hollaed

THOUSANDS PAY RESPECT

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The public of New .Zealand paid an impressive tribute to the lato leader of the Opposition, Mr 11. E. Holland, to-day. From all parts of tho Dominion thousands of citizens gathered !o pay their last respects to tho lato Mr Holland, and a procession of over a mile long, and consisting of between 10000 and 5000, followed the hearse from Parliament Buildings to St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral and subsequently to the gni,veside, near tho memorial tomb of the late Et. Hon. If. J. Scddon in the Bolton Street Cemetery. Dense crowds lined tho route and gathered at all available vantage points to witness tho ceremony.

All day yesterday and until half-an-hour before tho funeral to-day, a procession three and four deep tiled past the body of tho lato Labour leader as it lay in state in the vestibule of Parliament Buildings. Long before the hour of tho funeral a dense crowd had assembled in the Parliamentary grounds and along the route to St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, where a brief memorial service was held. Again, on the last stage of the journey, from the Pro-Cathedral to the grave in the Bolton Street Cemetery, thousands citizens had gathered. Planked by a guard of Parliamentary messengers, the coffin was reverently borne by six Labour members of Parliament, from the vestibule to the waiting hearse. Magnilicent wreaths, seat, from all parts of the Dominion, were carried out and placed on the waiting vans. Immediately following wero the members of the lato Mr Holland’s family, and then came Sir Cecil Day, ■who represented the GovernorGeneral.

The Prime Minister (Et. Hon. G. W. Forbes), Ministers of the Crown, the Speaker of the Legislative Council (Sir Walter Carncross), the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Sir Charles Statham), Mr Justice Blair (representing the Judiciary), Sir Apirana Ngata and representatives of the Maori race, Labour members of Parliament, members of the Legislative Council, the Mayor of Wellington. (Mr T. C. A. Hislop), Mr C. J. B. Norwood (representing the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board), Mr J. T. Grose (chairman of the Associated Banks), Captain Sinclair Thompson (representing New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy), tho General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Porces (MajorGeneral W. 11. L. Sinclair-Burgess), heads of Government departments, members of tho Government Railways Board, and representatives of other organisations completed the official section of the cortege. Then came hundreds of private citizens, including hundreds of representatives of trades unions, and a. delegation representing every public body on the West Coast. Flags on all public buildings and on business premises Hew at half-mast. Trumpeters of the Permanent Force having sounded the ‘‘Reveille,” the cortege slowly made its way to St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, where the body was received by the Bishop of W elli-ng-tou (ID. Rev. Dr. T. H. Sprott). The burial service of the Anglican Church was read by the Bishop, the lesson being read by the Rev. Clyde Can, M.P., a member of the Labour Party. The hymn ‘‘Abide With Mo,” ono of the favourites of the lato Labour . leader, was sung.

The cortege then moved off to the 1 Bolton Street Cemetery, where there was a huge concourse or people. Hero the burial service was read by the Bishop of Wellington, and the body was committed lo the grave. The removal of the Maori high chief’s mat which had covered the casket throughout was tho last act before committal. There were no orations at rue graveside, and at the conclusion of the ceremony tho hymn, “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” was played by the Wellington Tramways Band as tho mourners, conspicuous among whom were many representatives of the Maori race, wearing mats and insignia of mourning cm their headgear, sadly moved away from the cemetery. The Pall-Bearers. The pall-bcarers at Parliament Buildings wore Messrs M. J. Savage, L. J. Howard, D. G. Sullivan, W. E. Parry, R. Semple, and P. Langstone, M.P.s; the pall-bcarers from the hearse to tho church were Messrs E. McKeen, F. W. Schramm, E. T. Tirikatene, H. G. RMason, C. H, Chapman, M.P.s, and Mr P. C. Webb; the pall-bearers from tho church to the hearse were Messrs. J. W. Munro, H. T. Armstrong, W. E. Barnard, J. A. .Lee, A. S. Richards, M.P.s, and Mr W. C. George (Mayor of Huntly); the pall-bearers at the graveside were Messrs J. O’Brien, M.P., W. J. Jordan, M.P., J. Roberts, F. D. Cornwell, W. H. Woodcock (Westport), and .1. Smeatou (president of the United Metalworkers’ Association). Legislative Council Pays its . Tribute BOND or SYMPATHY WITH MB. HOLLAND’S RELATIVES. Per Press Association. . WELLINGTON, Last Night. In moving that the Legislative Council place on record its appreciation ot tho services rendered to New Zealand by Mr 11. E. Holland, Sir James Pansaid the death of tho Labour leader had been a shock to all. For 14 years he had led his party in Parliament, am this alone was a fine achievement. He had stood for principles, and had never been afraid to light for these principles. The late Mr W. F. Massey had said that he would sooner take the bare word of Mr Holland than tho bond of many other men. Mr Holland had been a model family man. Even in the fiercest of attacks bo had shown no malice. l .Ml wouhj deplore his .death.

one of a group of six men who had been responsible for bringing Mr Holland to New Zealand. From his early youth until the end, his life had been one long battle for the cause lie had always at heart. His had been a kindly and courteous nature. He had been a staunch constitutionalist and his whole life had been devoted to the alleviation of the lot of the poorer sections of tho community. As a member-of the Labour Party, Mr Fagan said he wished to express appreciation of the manner in which the Government had risen to the occasion. It could not have done more. Mr Holland’s last, rcstiugplace with within a short distance of the place in which lie had laboured on behalf of the people. The Maori race had paid a. wonderful tribute to the Labour leader.

lion. R. Masters said that right throughout New Zealand there was a band of sympathy with the relatives of Mr Holland. All acknowledged his sincerity of purpose. He had been straightforward and honest in a desire to help his fellow-men. Had he followed journalism instead of politics, ho would have been a wealthier man, but ho chose the path by which ho considered he could do most good. Hon. W. 11. Mclntyre .said the Buller electorate would never have a representative to equal Mr Holland. Ho had been an incessant fighter for the working class, and it was fitting that he should have been paid the tribute accorded him by the people of Wellington.

Sir Francis Bell said that, during the time he had been'a member of the Government., ho had come into contact with Mr Holland on many occasions, and all his associations with him had been of the pleasantest. He had led his party with great ability and in a manner in keeping with the traditions of British Parliaments. He had always been a man of his word, and when ho had attacked, he had always attacked principles and not persons. Hon. C. J. Carrington, Hon. D. Buddo, and Hon. J. Trevithick also paid tributes. The Council rose at 5.20 p.m. until Wednesday next. Memorial Service at Runanga WORK FOR LABOUR, AND DISTRICT PRAISED. Per Press Association. GRIUYMOUTH, Last Night. ’[’lie Runanga Miners’ Hall was crowded this afternoon, when a, memorial service to the late Mr 11. E. Holland was impressively conducted. Tho highest tributes to deceased's work for the district and the Labour movement of the country were paid, the speakers including Mr Bowes (Deputy-Mayor of Runanga), Cr. Price (Runanga), Archdeacon Jermyn, Revs. Harris and Beaumont, and Messrs Grconslando (Mayor of Groymoutli), McKano (chairman of the Cobdcn Town Board), Kent and MeDowall (Power Eoard), Miller (president of tho Co-opcrativo Society), Smitherain and Johnston (Miners’ Union), and Turley (Timber Workors’ Union). Mr Holland’s favourite hymn, “Abide With Me,” was sung, and other hymns rendered by tho Runanga Band. At the conclusion the “Red Flag” was feelingly sung by the gathering. Local Representatives at Funeral The Palmerston North branch of the Labour Party was officially represented at the funeral of the late Mr H, E. Holland by Messrs E. W. Ward (president), D. Wouldes feecretaryL Ca-rty