Career
Hollins, a supporter of the Social Democratic Federation, was branch secretary in Silvertown of the National Union of Gasworkers & General Labourers around 1914 and appears to have been an energetic organiser. In the 1930s, Hollins was an alderman in West Ham and in 1930 he was Mayor. Hollins came to prominence in 1940 when he was selected as Labour candidate to fill the seat of Silvertown on the resignation of the sitting Member of Parliament, Jack Jones, who had held the seat since 1918.
At this stage he had been a councillor for 26 years and an election agent for 20.
With the Second World War under way, Labour"s candidature was not opposed by the other coalition parties. This was in any case a Labour safe seat.
The only opposition came from the Communist Party, who put forward their leader, Harry Pollitt, and the British Union (formerly the British Union of Fascists). Hollins triumphed, winning over 14,000 votes and a majority of 13,377.
Both of the other candidates polled so badly that they lost their deposits.
Hollins remained as Member of Parliament for Silvertown until the next general election, in 1945, which he did not contest.
