State Regimentation

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1946, Page 8

State Regimentation

[TO THE EDITOR.] Sir,—Kindly allow me space to refer to the letter of your correspondent, “Freedom Soon,” published on July 23 regarding the main point he is so exercised about in his lengthy letter. He states regarding the Greymouth Laboui' propaganda committee, that there is fear throughout the country that if. Laboui’ is returned to office, the working man will be regimented, in other words, “State directed.” He states also that he can assure them (the propaganda committee) that an authoritative denial from the national executive along with a convincing pledge that regimentation is not intended, would be of more assistance than any other propaganda. Your correspondent no doubt takes colour from the political atmosphere prevalent in his electorate, but if he Will but cast his mind back to the many and varied assurances, especially during the last, six war years, he will recollect that Labour’s political assurances and promises have been notable for their lack of fulfilment.

Your correspondent may, of course, hold “that the State can do no wrong,” which thought dominates the mass mind of all Socialist-controlled States of whatever particular type they may be. I would like “Freedom Soon” to consider this fact: That a Socialist State, owning and controlling the “means of production, distribution and exchange”—the land, the producing, machine, the transport machine, and the money machine—cannot be operated without the human element of labour. Therefore, becoming State owned, labour must be State directed. Hence the worker becomes an integral part of the State machine, as in a Socialist planned economy there can be no allowance for freedom of individual action. This has been fully exemplified and still is in operation in certain European Socialist States. Yours, etc., — , CONSTANT.Palmerston North, July 30.