Return to democratic socialism urged

Press, 14 May 1984, Page 9

Return to democratic socialism urged

PA Auckland Labour Youth believe their party has watered down its socialist policies because of a fear of communism, according to speakers at a youth policy conference in Auckland at the wee K-end. About 25 Labour Party youth branch delegates attended the conference.

It endorsed a paper on democratic socialism, presented by a youth representative to the Labour Council, Mr Sean Fliegner. His resolution urging the next Labour Party government to educate the public in the principles and objectives of democratic socialism was also passed. Mr Fliegner said that democratic socialism was a skeleton in the Labour Party’s closet “While Labour is afraid to define democratic socialism, it defends itself from Redbaiting attacks, by shrinking from the socialist challenge, by rejecting democratic socialist policies, and by failing to educate the

in the principles of democratic socialism,” he said. Many members of the New Zealand public believed that socialism meant dull, grey conformity after looking to Poland or the Soviet Union as examples. However, socialism first meant the removal of the economic causes of injustice, and second a society of freedom, an aspect lacking in many socialist countries today, Mr Fliegner said. “Democratic socialists support public ownership, but only where that ownership is democratic and where it is designed to promote rational economic planning, and the just distribution of wealth,” he said.

Mr Fliegner said that democratic socialism was based on equality. “Equality does not mean that all people are the same,” he said. “It means that all have the same rights.” During discussion on the paper, one delegate said

that she felt the Labour Party had watered down its socialist policy because of the public’s fear of communism. The party needed to spell out what democratic socialism meant to it. Other delegates expressed the need for the party to lose its “middle of the road” image by putting forward more values and policies, and to promote a positive public image for socialism. Young Labour Party members should not give up their idealism because it is election year, the president, Mr Neil Morris, told the conference. Mr Morris said that there would be much pressure from elders, particularly in the Labour Party, for the youth not to speak out. Release of Labour Youth’s economic policy earlier this year was criticised by the party’s executive. Other policy areas discussed at the week-end included health, poverty, education, and women’s issues and democratic socialism.