1933: Death of Harry Holland

October 6, 2019

By AHNZ

8 October, 1933, Death of Labour Party Leader Harry Holland

You’ve driven past that steep green cemetery hill where Billy T James was buried, right? Just outside Huntly, the one with lots of character. During the funeral of the Maori King, old Harry huffed and puffed on this steep hill he ought not have attempted.

He faints. He dies.

Harry was like a booster rocket: Got the Labour Party to where they are today but had to be cast off (as would Lee, as we shall see.) Because, his death allows Labour to drop some deep ideological radical socialist policy and sweep in with replacement leader Uncle Fluffy (M.J.Savage, that is).

Harry gets a bang-up State Funeral in Huntly which Labour capitalises on very nicely. In the lime light they re-invent themselves. By 1935, Labour now runs the New Zealand Government.

That’s how it was done. A key day in New Zealand history.

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Image: Taupiri Mountain, thegirlthatsailsinthealia.blogspot
Harry: nzhistory.govt.nz

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