Fusion

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 231, 26 June 1931, Page 11

Fusion

Sir, —-My attention has been drawn to a letter in “The Dominion” by Mr. James Thorn in which he refers to my letter of June 12, which perhaps calls for a reply. He questions my statement that Socialism is a pure experiment, and says that Capitalism is a painful fact, etc. If he had seen, as I did, 75 years ago, large numbers of labourers going to work at 7 a.m. and not leaving off until 6 pm., and the sweating which was quite a common thing, also of women and children, the world over, he would perhaps understand that Capitalism has improved conditions considerably and he would not so readily question my statement, viz., “Our present Government was far from perfect, but let us go on improving.” Certainly the improvement so far has been very great. .to-- . With reference to Socialism being a pure experiment, to explain further my meaning—l think the average human is fonder of leisure than hard work, and if we -were to have equality all round with everyone expected to do his. share of. the work to run the world, with all its present conveniences, things would not be done and the .world would degenerate. Without incentive and some chance of profit, would many put in the years of study required for real cleverness in the professions? A physician, fdb instance. The richer a nation is, with a large number of very rich to pay taxes, the better that nation can afford to pay .tor free education, hospitals, old-age pensions, etc. The poor nations cannot afford this. Mr Thorn writes further that. I have made’a baseless assertion in stating that the Labour Party has wrecked the financial position in Australia. He may think differently, but in my opinion if Sir Otto Niemeyer's advice had been taken over a year ago the position would not have been so disastrous. The conference lately held at last decided on doing something approaching Sir Ottos advice. Mr. Thorn has pointed out that when the aUti-Labour Ministers were in power the Commonwealth debt was increased very considerably. 1 1 mentioned in my letter thaPour Government was far from perfect, and no doubt' that of the Commonwealth was hot much better. P oilticians of all parties, both here and in Australia, have borrowed money and spent it recklessly to catch votes, and I think a great deal of this money was spent to make work for the labourer. . Mr. Thorn also mentions the Hauraki election and that the United candidate, having lost his deposit, is a sign of tne rout ,of his party at the. next election. I can quite understand that the Labour Party in their own interest will do aU they can to prevent fusion of the two other parties. The name of Mr.. Massey, the son of our late respected Prune Minister, would go a long way to rally the electors, especially in Auckland, to vote for him. but it is no proof that the snnje thing would-happen all over New Zealand. Ido not say that the United Party wo'uld get the most votes, but 1 do say if the two parties, whose difference of politicial opinion so far as most electors are concerned is the difference between Tweedledum and Tweedledee, do not come together, and if-they split the votes bv having two candidates to oppose Labour, the unexpected may happen •* Timaru, June 21.,