Sidney Holland

The Right Honourable Sir Sidney Holland GCB CH
Holland in 1953
25th Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 13 December 1949 (1949-12-13) – 20 September 1957 (1957-09-20)
Monarchs	George VI Elizabeth II
Governors‑General	Bernard Freyberg Charles Norrie Charles Lyttelton
Deputy	Keith Holyoake
Preceded by	Peter Fraser
Succeeded by	Keith Holyoake
14th Leader of the Opposition
In office 26 November 1940 (1940-11-26) – 13 December 1949 (1949-12-13)
Deputy	William Polson (1940–46)[1] Keith Holyoake (1946–49)
Preceded by	Adam Hamilton
Succeeded by	Peter Fraser
Personal details
Born	(1893-10-18)18 October 1893 Greendale, Canterbury, New Zealand
Died	5 August 1961(1961-08-05) (aged 67) Wellington, New Zealand
Political party	Reform (1935–1938) National (1938–1957)
Spouse	Florence Beatrice Drayton
Children	4, including Eric
Parent	Henry Holland (father)
Military service
Allegiance	New Zealand
Branch/service	New Zealand Military Forces
Years of service	1915–1917
Rank	Second Lieutenant
Unit	13th Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery
Battles/wars	World War I Battle of Messines

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Sir Sidney George Holland GCB CH PC (18 October 1893 – 5 August 1961) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 25th prime minister of New Zealand from 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957. He was instrumental in the creation and consolidation of the New Zealand National Party, which was to dominate New Zealand politics for much of the second half of the 20th century.

Holland was elected to parliament in 1935, and became the second Leader of the National Party, and Leader of the Opposition, in 1940. He served briefly (1942) in a war cabinet but thereafter attacked the Labour government for its interventionist economic policies. Holland led the National Party to its first election victory in 1949. His National government implemented moderate economic reforms, dismantling many state controls. Holland's government also undertook constitutional change in 1950, by abolishing the Legislative Council, the upper house of parliament, on the grounds that it was ineffectual.

In 1951, Holland, having confronted locked out dockers and coal miners intent on what he called "industrial anarchy",^[2] called a snap election and was re-elected Prime Minister. In its second term, the National government signed the ANZUS defence agreement with Australia and the United States. Holland led his party to a third consecutive victory in 1954. Following ill health in 1957, Holland stepped down as Prime Minister to be replaced by Keith Holyoake.