Prime Minister
His First National Government implemented economic reforms, dismantling many state controls. In 1951, the National government signed the ANZUS defence agreement with Australia and the United States. The government also undertook constitutional change in 1950, by abolishing the Legislative Council, the upper house of Parliament, on the grounds that it was ineffectual. Subsequently New Zealand has had a unicameral parliament. His government had promised to reinstate the death penalty, which had been out of use since 1935 and abolished for murder in 1941, and subsequently did so in 1950. Another eight executions were carried out through Holland's administration (out of 36 murder convictions, 22 of whom had resulted in a death sentence). To solve the partisan-infected issue Holland called a referendum to be held on the same day as the general election of 1957, but the proposal failed to make the ballot. No executions were carried out under Holland's successor, Keith Holyoake, and in 1961 Holyoake oversaw a vote in which Parliament voted 41-30 (with eleven National MPs crossing the floor) to abolish capital punishment for murder.
In 1951, Holland caused controversy by confronting locked-out dockers and coal miners intent on what he called "industrial anarchy". He ordered the army to unload cargo from key ports and called a snap election, on the basis of this decision. Under his leadership the government implemented Emergency Regulations which drastically curtailed civic liberties, including the freedom of speech and expression. The Regulations were designed to silence and criminalise any support for the watersiders, including food supplies for their families and publications which publicised watersiders concerns and persepctives. The National Party was re-elected with an increased majority, with the backing of a largely conservative Press and the State control of radio broadcasting.
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Famous quotes related to prime minister:
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