SOCIALISM

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 145, 22 June 1938, Page 12

SOCIALISM

THE ELECTION ISSUE

GOVERNMENT'S TACTICS

"PEOPLE ALARMED"

The point that Socialism would be the paramount issue at the General Election, despite any attempt by the Government to cloak it, was made by Mr. O. C. Mazengarb, Nationalist candidate for Wellington Suburbs, in an address to business men at the National Club today: Mr. H. F. Toogood presided.

At the last General Election the word "Socialism" was hardly mentioned, said Mr. Mazengarb. Many conservative-minded people declared against the Coalition as being too radical, and many radicals were against the Government because it was too conservative. The Socialists were not slow to see that instead of uniting the forces opposed to Socialism, the Coalition had somehow succeeded in dividing them. Many manufacturers and other business men were moved to vote as they did because of Mr. Savage's assurance regarding the sales tax. Some weeks before the election, Mr. Savage stated that the sales tax was probably the most unjust tax of all and that a Labour Government would lose no time in wiping it off the Statute Book. FALSE ALLEGATIONS. Having achieved their initial object, the Socialist leaders set all the machinery in order for the establishment of a Socialistic state of society in New Zealand, but with the prospect of another election they were trying to repeat the tactics of three years ago by reminding people of the trials endured by them during the depression period and by falsely alleging that those unpopular Coalition measures would be repeated under a Nationalist Government.

It was just as well, therefore, that [business men should be reminded that the great slump was an impartial affair. In England there was a Labour Government under 'Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald; in Australia a Labour Government under Mr. Scullin; in New South Wales the famous Mr. Lang gained power in 1930; and in Queensland a Labour Government was elected in June, 1932. The measures which made the Government so unpopular in New Zealand were not invented here, but were copied from the Labour Governments of other countries. If the New Zealand trade union leaders had an anti-depression plan, then why was it not produced to save the situation for their comrades in Australia? If the present Government brought back prosperity to New Zealand, what had caused a return of prosperity in all other countries?

[ Now that the people were genuinely alarmed by the onrush of Socialism and the determination of the Government to go the "full journey," the Cabinet Ministers were making every endeavour to divert the attention of the electors from the real issue. That was the meaning of the recent unjustified "attacks upon the Press. That was also the reason for the attitude adopt|ed by the Prime Minister in his reI cent "good-will" tour. The receptions ] Mrl Savage received were accorded to him by virtue of his office as Prime Minister. Several of the gatherings were arranged by Mayors (who had only a few weeks before been opposed by Socialist candidates) and were attended by Nationalist members of Parliament and supporters. The great attendance was also a personal tribute to a likeable personality. KNOCKING DOWN STRAW MEN. . But when at these gatherings Mr. Savage indulged in party politics he seemed to take a delight in making imaginary charges against himself and then denying them. Just as he made the English journalists laugh by denying that he carried dynamite in his pockets, so he proceeded to create straw men on the toUr and knock them over. He denied that he was a weakling; he denied that he was a second edition of Ned Kelly; he denied that he had come to raid the farms; he denied that he was to blame for being a bachelor; and he denied that he intended to socialise clothing and perambulators. "What was the logic of this simplicity?" said Mr. Mazengarb. "Surely it was this, that if Mr. Savage could amuse the people they would like him better and possibly forget their fears o* Socialism. But will they?" '