STATE MEAT, SHIPS, BAKERIES, ETC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 65, 17 March 1915, Page 7

STATE MEAT, SHIPS, BAKERIES, ETC.

(To the Kdltor.) Sir, —The millennium must lie nigh at hand, when Mr. Massry is so rapidly becoming the leading State-Socialist In New Zealand. Since tastinglhc pleasure of the important position of sole purchaser of the Dominion's output of frozen meat, he lias declared his intention to take over some interned ships and put State crews in them to carry wheat from America in preference to paying exorbitant freights. Next, he says, he will establish .State bakeries if the price of bread is advanced another stiver. This is all full-fledged, whole-hog. businesslike Socialism, and there is but one important particular step omitted from the Prime Minister's programme. That step is the State Bank, to issue State currency, to finance State ventures.' When Mr. Massey adds these financial ways and means to his .Socialistic schemes, his name will go down to pos-' terity as the first Soc!alist Prime Minister in the world's history. Many people say that our Premier was a Knight of Labour in his early days, so perhaps lie has been cleverly playing a deep part in gaining the political confidence of the wealthy classes in this country prior to putting his early professions and beliefs into practice. Whether this conjecture of mine i> right or wrong, it is certainly much better business to own and run State ships than to pay private owners char-ter-fees, which, in from six to twelve months, amounts to ttie capital value of the vessels hired. It is also much better business to mill the wheat he has successfully bought abroad and make State bread, than to allow greedy, avaricious dealers to make fat profits out of his cheap grain. When Mr. Massey makes his own currency, his fame and reputation as Premier-shipowner, Premiermerchant, and Premier-banker will be the envy of every statesman in the British Empire.—l am. etc, F. T. MOORE. Manunui, 15/3/15. __