THE DANGERS OF SOCIALISM

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21578, 14 September 1935, Page 18

THE DANGERS OF SOCIALISM

Minister's Attack REPLY BY MR E. J. HOWARD [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 13. The dangers of socialism were emphasised in the House of Representatives to-day by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Minister for Justice) speaking on the address-in-reply. Mr Cobbe said that it could not be stated too plainly that the chief objective of the New Zealand Labour party was the establishment of socialism. The national president of the party, Mr Walter Nash, had declared that a victory for Laoour was a victory for its objectives—socialism.

The Minister said that socialism was a feUer with which mediocrity tried to cripple genius, and that New Zealanderd should beware of such a system. Socialism would establish a more hateful form of tyranny than any the world had known. Socialism was the substitution of state control for individual liberty.

"The Minister should remember that socialism and Labour are not on trial, but that the Government is facing its judges," said Mr E. J. Howard (Lab., Christchurch South) referring later to Mr Cobbe's speech. "All those, terrible things he says would happen under a system of socialism are happening now under the administration of the Government. The land is full of hardship and trouble, and even school children cannot be provided with adequate clothing and footwear, Christchurch had to raise £2OOO recently to provide boots for the children attending its. schools." ] Varied Comment Mr Howard quoted Lord Snowden on socialism and the need for a change in the present system, and said that the poor conditions of workers in the British industrial centres were repeated here in the Dominion. He also referred to the condemnation of the present unemployment relief system by Mr G. Lawn, lecturer in economics at Canterbury College. The Minister for Defence: Whom are you quoting? Mr Howard: Professor Lawn.

The Minister: Oh, a professor! Mr Howard: And here's another newspaper clipping, about Auckland students forming a Labour club.

Mr J. A. Nash: But they have other clubs as well. Mr Howard: No other club which is interested in social affairs.

The - next quotation was from Mr S. F. Marshall, of Christchurch, and the subject related to egg marKeting in New South Wales. Mr Howard said that Mr Marshall was by no means a Labour man. t£e was a leading figure in all Christchurch anti-Labour movements. The Pr'me Minister: There are no anti-Labour movements in Christchurch, are there? Mr Howa-d: Mr Marshall has been speaking about the efficiency and success of the Australian fixed price scheme for eggs, and yet he would oppose any move in that direction in New Zealand.