Socialism at the Gate

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 200, 21 May 1936, Page 11

Socialism at the Gate

Sir, —Air. AleDowell quotes a League of Nations publication showing that in 13 European countries three or four have Socialist Governments. This return omits Britain, which also had a Socialist Government within the period named. He appears to assume that because Socialist governments were in office that they carried out the Socialist policy—which is declared to be the abolition of competition, of private ownership and enterprise. Of all the countries he named, Russia is the only one which attempted the Socialist policy—all the others have permitted private enterprise and ownership and recognised competition. Now, sir, the League stated that the abolition of all forms of competition and reward for personal initiative has wrecked every Socialist experiment, because it led to apathy, slackness and reduction of output. This is not a statement of opinion but of fact. To disprove this your correspondent quotes Russia's more than doubled output in the last three years. We thank hfrn for emphasising this, fact, because it has been due to Stalin's introduction of payment by results. The. Socialist ideal of a dead level and abolition of incentive nearly wrecked the country, and the increased output dates from Air. Stalin’s abandonment of the Socialist plank. No amount of theory or academic argument will overcome the fundamental fact that human nature is so constituted, that no progress is possible unless there is the incentive of personal reward, and Russia (quoted by Air. McDowell) again provides evidence that this is so, as has every Socialist experiment proved in the past. —We are. etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. Wellington, Alay 20.

Sir, —I trust that you will be good enough to allow me to reply to the Welfare League's letter which appeared in your issue of yesterday. If the writer for the Welfare iSeaguo is as food at jumping hurdles as he is at jumping questions then he should enter for the championship of New Zealand. My first question relating to conditions prevailing in Russia to-day waa not even alluded to, nor was the old proverb referred to. The league did not mention the education of to-day, which is entirely different from what it was 100 years ago, nor did it refute the statement that the capitalistic system is a survival of the fittest. Questions from No. 1 to 5 inclusive were such tough propositions that the league could not answer them. Question No. 6 is answered in a manner which one would expect from such a writer. The nuswer reminds me of the game we used to play at school, “catch-as-catch-can,” when we usually went home minus some of our clothes. Just because, up to the present time, nothing has been found better than the capitalistic system, does not signify that nothing better will be found. If the league took a leaf out of old King Bruce’s book it would be more to its credit. I also note that what I said in connection with true co-operation was also ignored. Now, sir, I trust that when the league replies to this letter it will think of neither hurdles nor leap-frog, but that it will be answered in the spirit with which this letter is written—with the welfare of humanity at heart. In conclusion, 1 would like to point out that true Socialism is to be preferred to Communism. and if we defy the former, the latter will be forced upon us. —I am, etc., F. J. RYDER. Otaki. May 17.