REV. CAMPBELL'S VIEWS ON SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 3, 28 September 1907, Page 4

REV. CAMPBELL'S VIEWS ON SOCIALISM.

The Rov. R. J. Campbell (of New Theology fame) is reported as making somo interesting declarations on Socialism at Tredegar. This was the first of three engagements which-the pastor of the Temple has undertaken for Mr. Koir Hardie, M.P. in South Wales. Tho first thing to bo done, ho declared, was for tho nation to reclaim its own; and it should enter into possession- of hind wherever tho circumstances required it. without delay. " Tho Land Dill of the present Government hardly touches the fringe of tho subject," he said. " \Vc could ohango the wholo of the present day conditions if wo were only willing to lay aside our rooted prejudices against interfering with tho so-called rights of property; "Land values become inflated because of tho difficulty of transit and the certainty that rents will rise wherovcr population flows. I think we ought to multiply garden hamlets instead of garden cities. The land should be under public direction and control." Mr. Campbell advocates that railways should be subsidised mi condition that thoy became national property within a* given time. "A scheme like this," Jie said, "would involve vastly increased powers of land purchase on tho part of tho local authorities under tho skilled direction of tho Local Government Board."