COMMUNISM

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25445, 17 March 1948, Page 2

COMMUNISM

Sir,—ln answer to “What is Communism?” it is a system of gaining control over the lives and property of mankind by a specious propaganda of “community of property for the masses." Its propagandists are antiGod; in practice its administration is bound to be as crooked as it is possible tor its author, the father of lies, to make it. It speciously teaches the rights of man to free speech and action but no sooner do its dupes become entangled than they find underground forces at work binding them to destroy this freedom for all those who come under its power. Hardly a day passes in which newspapers do not show how people in parts of the world are being menaced of their freedom; end once the iron curtain descends in front of them what an awful fate awaits individuals, not to say nations, caught by its lying propaganda.—Yours,' etc,, P. H. PRITCHETT. March 18. 1948. Sir,—To-day there is much concern In New Zealand and the democratic countries regarding the disrupting efforts by avowed Communists upon our social and economic liberties. Tne germ ideas of Communism in New Zealand were introduced by various members of the Labour Party who could be named, and the cultural care J liven It may be noted in various egislative acts. Compulsory unionism was the greatest step towards it; and the so-called leaders in the Federation of Labour and certain union leaders are planning the one big union idea introduced by Hitler ana copied by Mussolini and Stalin. Until compulsory unionism and the closed shop are abolished the power of these men will exceed the power of a government elected by the people.—Yours, etc., L.H. March 16. 1948. f >

Sir,—Communism, a word like democracy, coated with ambiguities, could' be described as the political and moral outerop of a pseudo-democracy and Christianity in servitude to barbarism; or, if a practical single incisive deduction is Required, the organisation which resulted m a Stalingrad instead of a Brest-Litovsk and conceivably saved us from German atomic control and domination. To combat Communism it is necessary to allow its expansion to expose and accentuate its inherent weaknesses and tyrannies, while at the same time building a true democracy to compete with its more vital appeals. Democracy is created by the people and should progressively relegate vital issues to the ballot paper for decision. As religion is best armour but worst cloak, so democracy is best aim but worst excuse; for to allow incarnate souls to be sacrificial pawns denies Christianity and to ac*. cept the inevitability of wars and depressions denies democracy.—Yours, etc., PEACEFUL ANTIDOTE. March 16. 1948.