SINGLE TAX AND SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 9

SINGLE TAX AND SOCIALISM.

A SIR JOSEPH WARD REPLIES TO MR. MASSEY. *(BT TELEGItAqiI—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Gisborr.c, Juno 14. Sir Josopli, in tho courso of a spcecli on Saturday evening, replied to the statement made., by Mr. Massey at a Farmers' Union "social" at Mangoro 011 Friday to iho effect "that _ only a few_ days-' previously a Cabinet Minister, speaking at Auckland, liad delared that pooplo of the' country must ■choose between Socialism and single tax." Ho had wired that day to Mr. Fowlds, who had sent him tho following reply: "Tho Auckland 'Herald's' report ot' tho portion of tho speech referred to reads thus:. 'Right through the world there was a growing recognition of the need of sotno radical change to secure a nioro just and cquitablo distribution of tho produots of labour than existed at tho present timo. _ If tho change was not effected'.in' ono particular way it would bo brought about in another way: 1 That way might bo Socialism.' I ma.do no statement anywheie in tho Speech at Auckland that tho people of this country must chooso between Socialism and singlo tax. as Mr. Massey is reported to have stated at the Fanners' Union 'social.' I 4 had strongly protested against Mr. Massey including me amongst 'the six Socialist Ministers' in his speech at Gisbormv I had pointed out that Socialism and smclovtax• roro as'vido apart as tho Polos.'" Sir Joseph mndo 110 special reference to tho incident; Irt claimed that it was ridiculous to expect that in anv Cabinet thero would not be a diversity of opinion. contended that his Ministry should bo' judged, not by rumours ennonrninu its individual members, but'by tho policy of the whole. MR. MASSEY EXPLAINS.

(by TEI.IiGIUrn.—SPECIAL COKnF.SI'OXDKNT.I . Auckland, Juno 15. Some confusion seems to' havo orison over the Sin<rlc-tax and Socialism question as referred to by Ministers and by Mr. Massev, Leader of the Opposition. Tho Hon. G. Fowlds telegraphed to the Primo Minister. for the latter's use at Gisborne that he (Mr. Fowlds) had-never made the statement that tho people, of this country must choose between Socialism and Single-tax, as attributed to him by Mr. Ma.ssey.at Mangere. yesterday for . a clearer explanation of his reference to the matter, Mr. Mnssey said:— " My reference to the matter was rally to two statements made* by Mr. Fowlds, and taken in conjunction. Tho first was made, at a social evening held liv the Auckland Singletax League on March 0, and tho other was in Mr. Fowlds's speech to his constituents at Groy Lynn at tho Single-tax social. Tho Minister said: 'Social movement was now necessary and inevitable, and that it was daily becoming moro anparent that tho movement must lie either in tho direction of increased individual freedom, through the abolition of monopoly or increased restriction of freedom by Governmental interference. The only alternatives for tho social movement worn now either towards Single-tax or towards Socialism.' Freaking at Grey Lynn, Mr. Fowlds said: 'Tf the chance was not effected in one particular way, it would be brought about in another way. That way might bo Socialism. The present system was not likely to continue very long, becauso tho schoolmaster bad been abroad. The man who keeps bis coat on has » largo proportion of tho product of labour, while tho man who has Ins coat off gets very littlo of what his labour produces.' "