CITY MILK SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22081, 1 May 1937, Page 20

CITY MILK SUPPLY

/ 10 TUB EDITOB OV TITO PBESB. . Sir, —Some days ago € wrote you a letter in which I implied that you are inconsistent in your attitude towards the question of capitalism versus socialism. I reminded you of your quite explicit support for a socialised milk distribution service for Christchurch, and I invited you to reconcile this, support with your equally explicit condemnation of Socialism in general. Your reply, couched in a footnote, was as follows:—"If central distribution and. oversight meant socialisation we should be advocating socialism, but our correspondent disregards the other important part of the formula about the means of. production and exchange:" Before proceeding to a discussion of your footnote, I should like to make a remark or so of a widei nature. It is becoming increasingly manifest that the decisive issue which will confront the electors at the next General Election will' be that of capitalism versus socialism.. To choose wisely between these alternatives one must have an understanding of what it is all about. At the present moment.

however, very few people in New Zealand have any comprehension of what is ultimately implied by capitalism or by socialism. It would seem, therefore, of basic importance that the nature of these two conflicting economic , doctrines be thoroughly and publicly explored and discussed! For this purpose your correspondence columns are an invaluable medium. Hence I am sure that you will give every facility to an examination of a question upon the people's answer to which the fate of this nation may well depend. Now for your footnote. You assert that I "disregard the other important part of the formula about the means of production and exchange." That is true, but for the purposes of this discussion, irrelevant. The change-over to socialism in this country will be a gradual process. There is no reason why the distributive functions of a certain industry should not be socialised before its productive functions, or vice versa. As a matter of-fact, the foreign marketing of butter and cheese has already been socialised, whereas the production of these commodities remains in private hands. "If central distribution and oversight meant socialisation we should be advocating socialism." This statement is so vague that as an answer to my question it is valueless. It might mean anything or nothing. Socialism cannot be defined in four words, much less can its spirit be conveyed in a formula. I should have liked to indicate the socialist manner of tackling this milk distribution problem, and the nature of the Socialist solution. I fear, however, that the attempt would demand more space than you would be willing to grant me. I must content myself with pointing out that the socialist outlook transcends individual or sectional interests, and is concerned wholly with the public good, conceived in the widest possible manner. The Socialist, therefore, although he may admit the advisability of at least approximately balancing the budget in each industry, is not too insistent upon the necessity of rigidly adhering to the "commercial balance-sheet." He realises, that is, that a greater consumption of milk, for example, means better health, fewer doctor's bills, fewer dentist's bills, less absence from work, and in general, greater efficiency and less waste in every field of activity. Consequently, from a Socialist point of view, it might "pay" the community to tolerate a 'technical loss in its milk trading. Such a loss, if interpreted in terms of human behaviour, might well turn out to be a real and substantial gain. Concerning the replacement of .competition by co-operation, the elimination of the profit motive, the emphasis upon efficiency and upon planning on a national scale, I have room to say nothing. From what I have said, however, I hope the need has been suggested for further study of Socialism. The Socialist offers us a new world. We should not reject it without trying to understand just what it is he offers. —Yours, etc., WM. L. ROBERTSON. Hokitika, April 29, 1937.