CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Star, Issue 17644, 25 April 1921, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

Every letter must he aecomponied hij the. name and address of the writer, not necessarily for publication, but' os a guarantee, of good faith. Jtrjeeted letters cannot be returned under any eireumstances whatever. CLASS RULE. 10 THE EDITOR. Sir,- —The ‘ Star ’ of April 21 reports an address at the Cathedral last Sunday by Canon Ncvill on ‘The Industrial Question. While admitting bitter feelings on the part of both the employing classes and the employees, the Canon goes on to say—he., assuming he his correctly reported—‘‘There is no such thing ns bourgeoisie and proletariat; it was the figment of a stupid German theorist,” and again

‘‘class rule has given us a mighty empire”; further, •■democracy must come with gifts, not whips.” If there is no bourgeoisie and no proletariat, what is tho meaning of the outcry in the Press at ths present time?. Is that Press owned by the people misnamed proletariat, or are the people misnamed bourgeoisie to be seen standing in line at Che waterfront seeking a job? if the idea is a figment, why do the professors spend so much time discussing these theories so long after the death of their author? _ “ Class rule has given us a mighty empire.” Empire—impcriiim —domination. Do not these words signify oppressor and oppressed ? “ Democracy must come with gifts.” Hero again do not tho bcslower and the receiver signify classes? Tho people of the Labor movement look forward to a state where all shall perform useful sendee, where goods will bo produced for use rather than profit, and whore human labor is something more than a “commodity.” As recently as last century I wonder what would have been thought of the suggestion to place a statue of Abraham Lincoln so near the sacred precints of Westminster. Perhaps when a similar period has elapsed we shall see a statue of Karl Marx erected in London.—l am, etc., Mart M'Cahtitt. April 22.

MR STEVE BOREHAM AND DISLOYALTY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Mr Steve Boreham's mild and temperate Language must inevitably convince all his readers of tho “sweet reasonableness ” of Iho Socialist Party. It is astonishing how tho simple expression “ business ability ” causes those champions of tho soapbox to foam at tho mouth. If these apostles of liberty cannot stand a little candid criticism, how would they preserve their reason under tho stress and strain of tho management of largo public affairs? Mr Boreham challenges tho Loyal Citizens’ League to prove that any Labor organisation in Now Zealand is or has been disloyal. In tho first place tho Loyal Citizens’ League has never said that Labor —sane, intelligent, moderate Labor—is or has been disloyal. There is no more loyal section of the community; but the league has said, and will continue to say, that the revolutionary Socialist Party, which masquerades in the name of “Labor,” is disloyal in thought, word, and deed ; and if Mr Steve Boreham, or Mr' MacMa.nus, or any other man who calls himself loyal, associates himself with and defends that party, then, as a loyal citizen, he is keeping very queer company indeed. Now, as to tho proof asked for by Comrade Boreham, let us take recent acts and words of representative men of the revolutionary Socialist Party—of men who have tho impudence to say that they represent the sacred cause of Labor. The Labor members of the Wellington Council refused to sign tho address to the Prince of Wales. Labor members of the House refrained from singing the National Anthem when the House rose last session. Mr Holland, M.P., refrained from taking any part in tho Prince's visit to Westport—-his own constituency. The Labor members of the Wellington City Council also abstained from signing the address of welcome to Lord Jc-ilicoe.

The following is from the ‘Maoriland Worker’ (the official organ of the Labor Party), August 4, 1920: .“If Ireland succcds in achieving her independence, it means 'the break-up of the Empire. That will bo a blessing to the world and an inspiration to the cause of Labor.’’ This protested against by a correspondent on August 25, and the editor defended his words in very anti-British language.

Not only arc Labor representatives disloyal to the Crown and the Empire, but they are disloyal to Biitish democratic principles and institutions. Hero are some of the recent utterances of their leaders:

Mr E. J. Howard (‘Hansard,’ July 6, 1920); “I am not going to offer apologies for saying that as soon as possible I will help to get rid of Parliament ns it is now constituted, and institute in its place an industrial Parliament that will reflect the useful people.” Mr (Hover (at a Labor rally): “Within two years an industrial Parliament will be established in place of the'present political Parliament,”

Mr Fraser, M.P., on October 11, 1920, speaking on ‘The Labor Party and the World Revolution,’ after instancing Russia destroying tho old despotism, and now building a “ new and glorious freedom,” said; “The Labor movement in New Zealand was part and parcel of the s:pne movement. The workers had realised that they must organise on the industrial field, and Irattlo not merely for better condi-

tions, hut with tho object of having the industries controlled and directed by tho workers. With this object, they decided they must capture the political machinery of the country and apply it for the betterment of the country and people by the establishment of a- co-opcrativo commonwealth, to bring about the socialisation and communism of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.” Again and again during the recent correspondence in'your columns writers have charged the socialist candidates and their supporters, including Messrs Boreham ami MacManns, with the fact that they are dominated and obsessed with tho socialist ideas of “class warfare” _ and ■:ho abolition and exploitation of “private property” and tho “rule of the proletariat.”’ Not one socialist candidate, not one of their supporters, has ever answered that challenge or denied that assertion. 1 challenge any of -them to do so now, and I respectfully submit to tho ©lectors oi Duendin that men whose minds are steeped in the fallacies of communistic Socialism, who blindly follow avowed revolutionaries like Holland, Semple, Fraser, and men of that ilk, and whoso sentiments aro fittingly expressed in the anti-social columns of ‘Truth’ and the ‘ Alnorilaiid Worker,’ arc not lit and proper persons to represent the electors of Dunedin cither in tho City Council or in any other capacity.—-I am, etc., J.\‘o. B. Waters,

Chairman Executive Committee Loyal Citizens’ League. April 23. SOCIALLSTKJ SPEECHES. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—Having read the letter signed “ Worker ” in your issue of the 21st under the above heading, I felt grieved to think we still had workers who had not yet grasped the fact that to make progress of any description it is necessary to have an organisation. I tliink if your correspondent will spend just a few minutes per day in study as to how tho workers aro going to make progress other than by organised effort, wo shall eventually see him a member of the Now Zealand Labor Party, For the benefit of “ Worker ” I must inform him that there are many prominent people belonging to the Labor Party who aro not out to destroy society, but to build on the present foundation in such a manner as the Eight Hon. W. E. Gladstone and the Hon E. J. .Seddou sought to do. “Worker” will no doubt understand that both the above gentlemen wore abused, as tho present Labor Party are; but Communistic Socialism or proletariat dictatorship has not arrived as yet, nor is it likely for some considerable time. In the writer’s opinion it would not be in the interest of humanity to have dictatorship of any section; but during these last few years “ Worker” will agree it has almost been a dictatorship of the worshippers of mammon.

If “Worker” has perused tho platform of tho Labor Party and tho Loyalist Party he will see there is a great similarity between the two; but for his information I will explain that it is in the method of putting it into operation that they differ. If Labor gets on the council “ Worker” can rcet assured Unit an effort will bo made to do as it promises. If the people are wise enough to return the Labor members—and, I believe they arc—there will be an effort made to find suitable places for the disposal of meat, fish, bread, coal, wood, etc., immediately. They will not wait for the merchants interested in these businesses to wait on tho council to inform them how it would affect them, as the old council did in connection with the fish merchants. By the •introduction of municipal activity in the above they will create competition, which will allow the law of supply and demand to operate, and “ Worker ” will then sec prices falling rapidly, to the benefit of the people.

For the benefit of “Worker” Mr Shaddock has informed us in his addresses that electricity is now a necessity. This is correct; but for all (ho years that ho has been chairman of tho electrical department it is still necessary that a person who wants his house or premises installed with Sights or utensils for boating or cooking must go to a private owner of electrical goods to get such installed. “Why?” If Labor gets on the council “Worker” can rest assured that the people will not be paying at least double what they should cost. Labor would immediately see, that ilie municipality dealt with such matters; also many more activities would be de.alt with. Perhaps “Worker” will call the above Socialism. At the present 1 prefer to call it municipal action, which later spells ■State action. He will know that tills policy was carried out by the late lion. R. J. Soddon and his party. Surely ho will not object to this procedure.

May I, in conclusion, kindly ask “ Worker ” to ask any of the present Loyal Party, who seem conveniently to have dropped thoir platform in favor of tolling the people how long they have been on the council, the following questions ; —“ If elected, ?re they in favor of immediately- dealing with the question of providing means for .supplying the people with meat, coal, fish, wood, etc.? The entering into competitnn with private businesses in connection with electrical necessities?” Necessity demands that they should deal with these matters immediately, 1 can assure him their answers will be most interesting, and their actions still more so.

For the benefit of “ Worker.” or any workers who are afraid of (lie J.-abor Parly, 1 must inform them they want to get i'n the organisation and expound their views. I can assure them that no harm will befall them, and eventually we shall

see “Worker” gaining courage enough to sign his name whon writing to the Press. 1 shall be willing to- discuss financial, economic, or social matters with him at any time if he will just sign his name. I may be young, but have been taught many years in the school of experience.—l am, etc., C. M. Moss. April 23.