EVILS OP SOCIALISM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8406, 23 March 1916, Page 7

EVILS OP SOCIALISM.

. Australia was recently visited by an American -trade • commission, consisting of Dr A. A. Snowden and Messrs D. M. Parry and J. Kirby. Those gentlemen have just published, a voluminous report of their tour. From the Sydnqy "Morning Herald", we : reprint some of their conclusions :—

(1) That magazine and newspaper articles to the effect that Australasia had solved the industrial problem by legislative action, and that Australia and New -Zealand had each been transformed into an industrial paradise, are idle tales., without a shadow .of fact upon which to" base them; that instead of industrial conditions in these countries being "ideal," they are deplorable in tiie -extreme; and that there are to be found in New Zealand and Australia more idle,'disillusioned, faultfinding poople, who condemn the country and its institutions, than can bo. found in any other countries of equal population.

(2) That the natural resources of Australia up to the claims tliat arc made for them, and that it has followed the lead of New Zealand in the matter of -.experimental legislation and State Socialism, which have taken root, and become a chronic disease, in ,the Commonwealth and State Governments,- with the result that Australia is facing a period of decadence and dry rot, while the process of nationalising industries is still going on, and a chief subject of agitation is the placing of a premium on idleness by the paying of wages out of the public Treasury to habitual idlers ajid unemployed. . (3) That, although-there is plenty of wealth in Australasia., there is no vulgar or 'ostensible display of it. people having vested interests at stake realise the Socialistic trend of things, and religiously avoid aggravating the situation by feeding the soapbox orator and his political allies with examples of the luxurious display of which they are pleased to call "predatory wealth." In this regard Australasia is holding out an object lesson that would be well for many people in the United States to heed and follow.

(4) That in practical operation State Socialism in Australasia, while attractive in theory to' some people, has proved a dismal failure, and has made these countries appear before the world as "ideal countries going wrong," and as "the paradise of fools," the responsibility for which rests upon the shoulders of dishonourable politicians, who make capital out of catering to the organised vote at tho expense of the welfare of tho country. The hope of Australasia lies in' the repudiation of these politicians and their theories."

(6) That the Press of Australasia is, as a rule, clean, conservative, and fair; with very little tendency, to muckraking or yellow journalism ; a,nd thai the fairness, vigilance, and impartiality of the Press is a prime factor in keeping the public life reasonably dean.

: (6) That the stretch, of conscience that enables a representative of all the people to vote for " preference to unionists l? is abominable, and that decadence is a just reward for any country whoso Government stands up for such a flagrant violation of human

rights. (7) That tho laws of Australasia, which provide for compulsory arbitration, wages boards, and a minimum wage, have proved inefficient and .inadequate for their intended purposes, jinci that instead of accomplishing their objects they are serving to make Australia and New Zealand breeding countries of loafers and idlers; that they, have practically destroyed all hope of reward for personal ambition among the workers, and have served only the socialistic purpose of levelling up and levelling down the whole class to one standard of opportunity.

(8) That tho wage question is an economic problem, which should be kept aloof from politics; that the function of Government is not to appease its warring functions by compromising fundamental principles, but to protect tho rights of every citizen by the use of all the power at its command when necessary; that the , more Government intervenes in private business the more it will be compelled to intervene, and that it is easy to ennct but almost impossible to repeal such measures, especially when their effect is the creation of a huge governmental machine.

(9) That, according to tho .Commonwealth statistics for 1914, the purchasing power of money had depreciated since 1901 practically in the same ratio as-wages advanced during the same period, it being therefore apparent that, however much legislation may have been enacted as a panacea for the economic ills of society, the same has had practically no effect on the natural law of supply and demand, which has maintained its supremacy, and that the real effect of the industrial legislation has been to creato disappointment and breed more discontent by imposing up-! on the people a burdensome and expensive system, which has failed to give value received. (10) That practically all labour organisations of Australia-, as elsewhere, are based upon false principles, not only economically unsound, but which work an unjust and cruel hardship up--1 on the majority of workers themselves, ' who do not agree with the unions, but ! suffer at the' hands of an organised ; minority of their fellows, who try to ' force out of industry more than it contains, and whose slogan in is the socialistic idea that labour creates aJI wealth, and therefore all wealth belongs to labour. But we have only to look at the results of labour when not directed by superior guidance, reinforced by capita), to see the absurdity and the ridiculousness of the claim. (11) That (a) tho practical remedy lor industrial' unrest and disturbance lies in the dissolution of unions at present organised, and tho founding of a. new unionism,' with efficiently and greater productivity, instead of deficiency and restricted productivity, as its watchword and basis of conduct, and recognising that tho only line along which it can hope to pormanentlv bettor labour or realise its expectations is by lessen ing the cost of_ production through increased productivity, and thereby increasing the purchasing power of monoy wages: (b) that when labour purges itself and organises with equity in lieu of arbitrary despotism as a basic principle, when it adopts find oiK-rates upon a platform of equitable business methods, and when it seeks no privileges that it is unwilling to extend to others, then, and nob until then, will industrial 'peace and harmony bo restored; Ukmi, and not until thru', will labour and capital go forward' linud in hand to higher and noI bier achievements.