Mrs Thatcher

Press, 15 September 1976, Page 20

Mrs Thatcher

Sir, —M. Creel is absolutely right in describing Britain as a state-capitalist country- In true socialism such as in Russia and China the workers, as owners of the means of production could not have any collapse of industry. Strikes and free wage-bargaining are out, discontent is suppressed by the secret police, the unions are all for increase of production and the standard of living is kept to the absolute minimum. As even the least educated person cannot help making surplus value through his labour working to a strict set of norms the state is thriving. The Government has 99.9 per cent of the workers’ vote through the compulsory voting for the party.—Yours, etc., C. E. FIELD. September 13, 1976. Sir, —Hats off to Mrs Thatcher, whose visit to New Zealand has sparked off a violent reaction from Mr Rowling. Her definition of the left and right movement in politics reminds me of the shrewd comment of Sir Arnold Nordmeyer when he warned the Parliamentary Labour Party “There are too few’ socialists in New Zealand to implement a policy of strict socialism.” Despite the fact that this advice was given about 15 years ago it still holds good today. Led by a knight in shining industrial armour, Sir Thomas Skinner, the Labour Party has yet to realise that it is not the vote of the executive of the trade union movement that elects governments but that .of the average New Zealander. The appointment of Mr David Exel as the Labour Party’s $20,000 man with the title of communications director, is hardly likely to appeal to the “working” man.—Yours, etc., L. J. STEVENS. September 13, 1976.