DANGEROUS DOCTRINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 June 1922, Page 7

DANGEROUS DOCTRINE

—MSdp. LABOUR LEADER OUTSPOKEN. Speaking.at Zeehan (Ta.s.) on May 6, Mr Ogden, M.H.A., vigorously condemned the new Communism policy of tiie Labour Party, of which ho is still one of the leading members. Mi- Ogden said that he was "an old unionist,” and a firm advocate of inj dustrial organisations. “An attempt was being .made to coerce Labour memp bers to pledge themselves to the principle of the One Big ...nion, but he was not in favour of the innovation, because ho was opposed to autocratic control. . . There is undeniably a small section behind the industrial war.” Mr Ogden confined: “They may not be in actual control, , but they will at all times use on industrial dispute, as was done recently in South Africa, to stampede the ’ workers into a ruinous and criminal _ civil war, which will drag them furj flier in the inevitable chaos, and rob them of the privileges won after years of sacrifice and struggle.” ’ After referring to the statesmanlike policy, and the almost inspired - sincerity and honesty of the early pioneer of the Labour movement, Mr ‘ Ogden said : — 1 “I do not subscribe to the now doc- ( trines of revolution and confiscation that are being preached by the modern so-called Labourite, and I refuse to follow them'’along paths that I consider to bo dangerous for the welfare of humanity and the State. Some scheming self-seekers are using this groat movement for their own ambi tions. They urge the destruction of tho present system of capitalism, while they are themselves quickly becoming capitalists. Tho present system needs | improving, not destroying. It is ini- | possible to abolish capitalism until | you change human nature and banish K selfishness. Tho love of offspring fi and possession are tho predominating | factors in human existence and effort, n and. no matter what the system, those fl animal instincts will prevail and ro- s suit in the accumulation of personal a wealth in some form. T repudiate I those extreme doctrines, and will, put | my name to no platform that departs I from constitutional and rational mea- 3 suTes.l” ?