The Trend in Politics

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 15

The Trend in Politics

Sir, —Perhaps it would be as well for me, before dealing with the reply cf “Ajax,” to explain the views which prompted my first letter. I am neither 100 per cent. Socialist nor blind supporter of the present Government. I have not studied Soiealism deeply enough to be able to say whether it is thoroughly sound or otherwise, but I do think that some of ils basic features, for example co-operation and distributive .justice, not only are grand ideals but must inevitably become realised in the march of progress. The Labour Government will make its mistakes, like all other Governments which have preeded it, but for all that I believe it is out to do something.positive toward bringing about contentment and true prosperity rather than to wallow in a state of opportunistic accommodation

to an old order which is doddering on the verge of senility. It is at least inspired by feelings of humanity to a greater degree than its predecessors, who, in my opinion, thought too much in terms of abstract financial security and too little in tenuis of actual human comfort. “Ajax',” in his opening paragraph, trifles with names. He has no more right to deny the prefix of “Labour” to Mr. Savage’s party and policy than have I to apply that of “Die-hard Tory” to the Coates-Forbes regime. An inclination toward Socialistic principles no more makes straight-out Socialism than does the wearing of a false leg and a plated skull make an ex-serviceman a robot.

My friend next twits me with using an old gag. This is refreshing. The ancient “minority vote” moan which he himself uses to belittle a party which has so soundly trounced its adversaries at the polls takes not a little beating as a venerable gag of perennial utility. Now, coupling this little gag with his dig at the term “accredited representatives,” whither io he heading? Apparentlj’ he has very little use for the ballot box as a means of determining the will of the people. These are revolutionary sentiments with a vengeance, and come most strange from the pen of one who io so apprehensive of the “dynamiting of our social structure”!

We now come to the “Difference in policy after the election” plaint—another gag of pedigree. But don’t we hear this one from the “Out” supporters after every election? I think this one must have commenced with Simon de Montfort's long-nosed mail-clad contemporaries and is likely to endure until elections and parliaments are dispensed with by the last echo of Gabriel’s trump. It would surely be a next to impossible job for any party to outline in detail before an election just exactly what it proposed

to do and, if returned, stick rigidly to that programme without adding or subtracting one split hair. Most fair-mind-ed folks are prepared to award at least “pass marks” in respect of honesty of purpose to any party whose actual record at least squares with the spirit of its declared pre-election policy. I Prior to’last election the Labour Party | made no bones about the direction its. legislation would take and I therefore consider that the old charge of “putting | it over” which “Ajax” suggests, if not j makes, is without sound foundation. As far as dictatorship goes, goodness only i knows mankind has suffered flong enough a form of dictatorship which, if not so apparent as any form of State control, | is characterised by a subtlety and insidiousness which makes it many more times effective. Recent Press reports show that the dictatorship of the board ■room and cheque book is not averse to doing a little on its own account in the

trade union conscription line. “Ajax” now rubs in my extraordinary expression “compulsory co-operation.” Surely he must realise that my use of the term was confined to a purely hypothetical case. Your correspondent agrees with me that reformers have always been called visionaries; that their visions have eventually become realities. Well. I think if any body of men had been soundly dubbed visionaries it is the present Government. The epithet is daily in the mouths of their opponents. Then why all this pother about “dragooning,” etc.? Give Labour a chance to realise its visions. It is possible that its methods may seem to show touches of the drill square, but that shouldn’t be difficult to put up with after four years of the salutary discipline of the previous Government. —I am, etc., ODYSSEUS. Hastings. June 10.