SINGLE TAX AND SOCIALISM.

Evening Star, Issue 12964, 29 May 1908, Page 3

SINGLE TAX AND SOCIALISM.

[Splcial to the Star.] WESTPORT, May 29. In alluding to the question of Socialism in the course of his 6[>eech at Grey Lynn, the Hon. George Fowlds drew a distinction between Single Tax and Socialism. "Tin Leader of the Opposition has a new cry." declared Mr Fowlds. "When the Government was first formed, it was all Shirk Tax." Lately he bad taken up the question of Socialism. It was commenced by one of his lieutenants, who, raiding a hook on the subject, discovered that the abolition <>i the marriage tie wa«s advocated; therefoi;he accused iomc of the most respectable members of the Government of ttyim' {<> abolish the marriage tie.—(Laughter.) J-L----was not there to discuss the merits <;f Socialism, for he was not a Socialist, but lie had no hesitation in saying that !:■■_- would bo a Socialist rather "than an upholder of the syritwn which worked out foi the impoverishment of the great mat- ';. the people. The principles with which hj had always boon identiti-id—those of thSingle Tax—were the antitho-ia of Social ism. Socialism and the Siu.de Tax wew as wide asunder an the poles, y.nd if Mr Ma.ssey wus a student of inci-e fivi-ttet-.; !;•■ would know this; yet he s-iid that d.\ members of the Ministry were in sympathy with Socialism, and that the Pre mier and Mr Carroll weie its friends. If the lieader of the Opposition knew the difference between the two. 'he must know that he (Mr Fowlds) was not a Socialist; he either exhibited ignorance or was wilfully misrepresenting the position. Ho could take his choice, but ho could not avoid one or other of the two conclusions. Right throughout the. world there was a growing recognition that some radical changes had to take place, which would secure a more just distribution of the products of labor. If it was not done in one way it might l>e in another, and that way might be Socialism. People were beginning to question the condition of things which enabled the man who kept his coat on to get the large-1 proportion, while the mm who dd the labor got "jolly" little of what he produced.