THE BOOKMAN

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1922, Page 17

THE BOOKMAN

"Socialism and' Character." By Henry Sturt, M/A. London. George Allen and TJnwin, Ltd., and the Fabian Society. , . .

On the flyleaf of this book there is a note to say that the work is published partly at the expense, of the Tulloch and Ban- Publishing Fund, instituted as a memorial ,o£ William Tulloch and Dr. Hugh Barr, members of the Fabian Society, Who lost their lives in the Great War. This inscription is, in a measure; a key tq.-the character of the book. It expounds the principles of Socialism, but acknowledges the claims of nationalism and its Obligations—as William Tulloch and Dr. Barr, "members of the Fabian Society, who lost their lives in the War. The stated aim of the author, who is a lecturer in, the University of Wales, is to show How human character will be improved by and what the institutions: of will be. There are 214 pages in the book (including the title pages and tables of contents). Much more space has been given by other economists to the discussion of single phases of the subject—phases which Mr. Start covers in' a chapter, or sometimes in a paragraph. ' The work cannot be called a text T book. It is rather an outline, a sketch, with a few bold strokes to which the public may add their own details oi light and shade. Mr. Start's Socialism is not Communism and it is not Revolutionary Socialism. It acknowledges tho food in national sentiment, it respects the ome. It -wouUi seek to refine such sentiments rather- than destrby them, by making the home one in which there is comfort and happiness, and the country one • where, equitable distribution of wealth gives' all classes something to defend. The author's theory is that the true principle to be observed in the distribution of wealth is that the share of the citizsn should be proportional to the public service rendered. To. attain this end reform should be applied to the causes through which men grow excessively rich, such as the land system, public.debt, inheritance, capitalism, and special industrial ability. At the same time, it is admitted that checks to tho accumulation of wealth must be applied with caution if the incentive to useful service is not to be weakened. Private industry will, the author holds, continue to be 'necessary in the Socialist State in some respects, such aa in artistic occupations, in hazardous or adventurous enterprises, and as a spur to the efficiency of the Socialist State activity. The probable efficiency of the Socialist State is dealt with in a way that many students will consider oxtremely curt. With the need arising for anjimproved Civil Service to administer widening State activities, the author1 holds, such a service will be supplied. The only measure he suggests to attain this end is the elimination of "duds" and the removal of the tradition that every Civil servant holds the freehold of his job. There are certain reforms which Mr. Sturt oulines from which he expects results which are not at all -warranted by the results attained in New Zealand and Australian experiments. For example, the payment of members of Parliament is expected to give us an assembly of men .who will make a close theoretical and practical study of the science of government. If we were to say that it. has not, Mr. Sturt would probably say that we do not pay enough. Then there is the enfranchisement of women. Can we in New Zealand say that our reformation of morals by legislation is immensely in advance of that of Great Britain? Yet our women have had the franchise for many years longer, though certainly without the right to sit in Parliament. Mr. Sturt attaches much importance to the status of woman. They 'must, he holds, be made economically independent of men by. payment for their services as wives and mothers. \ ■

Many of the author's speculations are interesting, but his reasoning is not always close. He takes much for granted. No doubt that is necessary when he has set himself to 'cover so much ground in so small a space, but it does not make tho book convincing. In his chapters de.voted to character, and, indeed, in the exposition of Socialism, Mr. Sturt discusseS lightly many problems of psychology. It is a popular saying that human nature must be' changed; if Socialism is to ■succeed. Mr. Sturt evidently considers that Socialism should come first, and that it would bring about the change in human iiature. At tho same time, he combats the statement that our nature is antagonistic to Socialism. His claim concerning character is that Socialism would not remove the incentive to service or weaken the mental''and moral fibre of mankind. There would still be a call for all manly qualities, for courage, ambition, and. originality. With one conclusion, of the author's most people will agree—that there would be more widespread happiness in tho State he plans—if such a State could be established. " Socialism and Character" is a work with a laudable aim. Most students of economics will disagree with some portions of it, for it appears to follow closely no special school of economic thought, but disagreement spurs thought, and that is always ;good.

"An Austral Garden of Prose." Compiled by Donald M'Lachlan. Melbourne: Bobertsoh and Mullens. The object of the compiler of this book of extract? from Australian and New Zealand literature is to induce children to explore the works from which the selections have been made. He expresses the hope that " the selection is representative of the best of the prose work that has hitherto. been done by Australian authors, \ and authors who, though not Australian born, wrote of some phase of life here, represented some attitude determined by the condi- | tions peculiar to this—our country." The selections include passages from works by Louis Becke, Marcus Clarke, A. G. Stephens, Henry Lawson, Judge Maning, Henry Kingsley, Ethel Turner, G. B. ■ Lancaster, Koderic Quinn, Edward Dyson, Frank Fox, and Donald M'Donald. ' Most of the writers from whose works Mr. M'Lachlan has taken passages have made a name for themselves in Australia, and to some extent in New Zealand; the works of some, indeed, are still well read overseas. The extracts made by. Mr. M'Lachlan appear to havo been chosen for their interest to young readers quite as much as for their style. Maning is represented by a passage from his " Pakeha Maori," describing the old Rangatira. The national feeling in Australia is deep and strong, hence Mr. M'Lachlan's faith in collecting extracts from the writings of Australians (by birth and preference) for young Australia to read. At the samo time, there is much in what Walter Murdoch told in an interview ho had with Georgo Meredith at his homo in Surrey, nnd -which is included in this anthology. ' Meredith speaking: " Try to got your young men to know their English classics—to read their Shakespeai-e, Milton, Pope, and Wordsworth. Not, of course, to imitate these; but to be. well grounded in t.he greatest literary traditions." Meredith " thought we had some promising young men, but he was not enraptured with what he had seen of onv verso" is .Murdoch's comment, quoted by Mr. M'BaciilanV