Socialism in ’Australia

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 256, 26 July 1937, Page 3

Socialism in ’Australia

Sir, —The Hon. R. Semple baa made known in Australia that he is “an uncompromising Socialist.” Seemingly the Minister overlooked the all-important fact that Australia has passed through the hard school of experience aud is now enjoying stable prosperity and the prospects of a material reduction in taxation. Australia learned to her sorrow how the sentimental ideals of Socialism may be pursued till they carry unthinking electors into the region of self-deception. New Zealand has yet to learn this lesson in full under the present Socialist Government. For the enlightenment of electors the following extract from an editorial in the Sydney “Morning Herald” of July 6 will be of interest: — “With the close of the financial year Governments have been easting up their accounts. The Commonwealth and this State each finds it has a surplus; Queensland the lowest deficit for eight years. So far have we travelled from the depth of the depression, when the Commonwealth closed Its year with a deficit of £10.715,000 and New South Wales with a deficit of £14,260.000. For each of these deficiencies a Labour Government was responsible: in the case of New South "Wales the Lang Government had closed the previous year with a deficiency of £ 7,900.000. In lhe years of oncoming depression, of the depression itself, and in the years when Australia was lifting herself out ot the depression, the Labour Gorernmetn of Mr. Lang, with IS months ot office was responsible for £22,000.000 deficit—of total deficits over nine years totalling £-10.000,000. It was when Labour left office in botli the Commonwealth and New South Wales that the depression commenced to lift in Australia. With the two chief Governments of Australia in. control of the combined United Australia and United Country forces, confidence not only of the industrial and •business.community but also of the wage-earners was restored.” The day will come when complacent electors in this little country will realise that nothing can be more important to the welfare of a community than the wide extension of rational curiosity in the desire of knowledge.—l am, etc., NEW ZEALANDER. Wellington, July 24.