TOWN RUINED BY SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 4

TOWN RUINED BY SOCIALISM.

<f ßomo, remarkable statistics (says the loiidon Express ) have,, .been published illustrating how Brest lias been ruined ..by. Socialism. For til red years the town was placed by the polls completely linder the control of the Socialists, i'his summer the Socialists 'had to renounce thoir power; as they had reduced the finances to a state of absolute bankruptcy. Thero are 71,000-inhabitants, of whom at the end of last year 23,581, or oiie-third):of the 'total population, were in receipt of poor relief.' The facts prove that the persons who received relief were not in a state of poverty, but that tliey wero the recipients of corrupt, indulgences on tho part of tho Socialist administration. Strikes which were engineered, at tho arsenal endangered national defence, and were followed by similarly 'induced strikes .of .dockers and seamen, which had a disastrous effect on the maritime' trade. ■ The building trade fell off 90 per cent, in tho three years, the local Customs' diminished, and' the Socialist council spent three-quarters.-of the .£IB,OOO surplus left by their -predecessors. Several schemes laudable enough in appearance were made the vehicle of wholesale extravagance. It was decided to organise the distribution of pure milk in working class quarters. The total expenditure was .£I4OO, of which ,£720 was paid ill wages and rent. Each litre (1$ pints) of milk, costing ljd., cost the municipality in distribution 3UI. Then tho council organised a municipal theatre on Socialist lines. After two years of Socialist plays tl/c audiences so fell off that the theatre was run at a loss of ;£IGOO last year. The experience of Brest has also been that of other French towns. Socialism did the same when in power at Saint Denis, Koubaix, Marseilles,' and Limoges. In each case a majority formed of the hated bourgeoisie had to be sought to sot municipal affairs once more on a firm foundation. ,