LABOR AND SOCIALISM.

Evening Star, Issue 18137, 29 November 1922, Page 12

LABOR AND SOCIALISM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —If - M.” would trouble to read his quotation carefully I am sure that he would find that it docs not state that '■ Christianity began with Socialism.” On page IS) of his book, ‘ Christianity and the Social Order,’ the Bev. R. J. Campbell sayai “I do not mean, of course, to make the foolish statement that primitive Christianity waa identical with the Socialism of to-day ; it was not, but it was far nearer to the Socialism of to-day than to the official Christianity of to-day. Indeed, wo may say that its aim and purpose were so nearly akin to those of presentday Socialism that the tetter may, without the least exaggeration, bo described es the inheritor of the true Christianity.” In the Bev. Mr Campbell's book “M.” will find all of hia arguments answered; and if ho considers the theology, etc., unsound I would advise him to write another book to prove it. If he does so ho will provide himself with work for the rest of his life. If "M." considers that it is right that less than per cent, of the people in England should own tenelevenths of the land he thinks differently from most Socialists, “ M.” seems to consider Socialism a mere will-o’-the-wisp; but we have gone a long way toward that objective. In Dunedin our tramways, gasworks, electric power, water service, etc. are all instances of socialised industry- The list of industries nm by the State and different local bodies is an evergrowing one, and people must be blind who cannot see the dmt of most countries toward Socialism. Instead of our natural resources being developed for the benefit of a few, Labor considers that they should be developed for the benefit of the whole community.—l am, etc., A.E. November 28.