The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. THE RED FLAG OF SOCIALISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2121, 21 February 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1908. THE RED FLAG OF SOCIALISM.

It was characteristic oi Mr. Massey , Loader of the Opposition, that when speaking in acknowledgment of the magnificent tribute paid to him at Faerata, lie should attack in 'unmeasured terms what he considers to be the most dangerous olement in Now Zealand politics. It is probably this very quality of fearlessness in xuiblic speech that was responsible for the extraordinary enthusiasm and devotion of the Franklin electors who, appreciating to the full the splendid attributes of their representative, assembled to do him honor. Had Mr Massey in the past been prone to adopt the compromising, cringing spirit popular with the average politician it is quite likely that ho would have been at tho head of the Government-long ere this, but a. bold and fearless Democrat who sees clearly ahead the correct lino of policy for the country and refuses to budge under the strongest pressure rarely succeeds in attaining the high-

est political office in any land. He may elicit universal respect as Air Massey has done, ho may evoke tho devotion of his own constituents as Air Alassey has done, hut unless he is prepared to make sacrifices to tho various solf seeking interests that hang like harpies around the political arena ho is scarcely likely to reach the top. It is in this aspect of politics that the chief difference can be discerned between the Premier and the Leader of the Opposition. AVlien Sir Joseph Ward spoko in Auckland the other day he frankly admitted what the Opposition has recognised all along, namely, that t'lio chief danger to be guarded against in this country is the possibility of socialists of the extremo type gaining possession of our parliamentary machine. Sir Joseph AVard must have been aware of this fact when he formed bis Cabinet eighteen months ago, yet from his -actions on that occasion one can only arrive at the conclusion either that- he is a very weak man for a leader or elso that his public utterances on this question are the merest sham. Holding the view that revolutionary socialism was becoming a menace to the country, ho nevertheless appointed a Land Nationalist to his Cabinet, a Alinister of .Lands who quickly proved himself more revolutionary than the most rabid -Socialist and as Minister of Labor one of tho most prominent partisans on the Unions’ side in the country. In the conduct of their respective departments .these gentlemen have proved themselves to bo keen and conscientious officials, but as heads of the State’s political machinery, wo have no hesitation in declaring that Sir Jqseph AVard’s -action in appointing them his chief advisors was not what might have been expected from one who wished to save the country from the ill-considered schemes and confiscatory methods of the modern socialist. As a matter of fact -results showed that the new Premier had saddled himself with a Alinistr.y capable of landing the country and himself into.-no end of trouble and it was only -the energy of Mr Massey and his followers that saved the situation. AVithout -tbit opposition the absurd limitation -proposals originally propounded by Air .AlcNab, doubtless -after consultation with his Land Nationalising colleague, which were subsequently admitted by another member of tho .Ministry, Dr Findlay, to be unworkable, would in all probability have been placed upon the statute book with appalling results. Even -after these had 'been .withdrawn it was only the most strenuous work on the part ‘of the Opposition which prevented' the Government from making it absolutely impossible for a settler in the future to obtain the freehold of a Crown allotment. In other words, while Air. Alassey on the freehold question as ■on other matters has laid down liis position clearly and definitely and having done so fights for it to tho last ditch, the Premier simply adopts the line of least resistance and drifts with the tide of socialism. All the speeches he can make from now till election time cannot alter the hard facts here set -forth. An important point made in this connection by Air Alassey was his allusion to the personnel of the -present members of the Lower House. He asked the peoplo of the country to take the roll of Parliament and see how many members who were included in the Government party would stand up against the Socialistic theory rather than give up their seats. This is the aspect that should- appeal most strongly to tho public at the present time. If they are satisfied to let Socialism run riot until, before they fully realise the position, they find the legislative machinery of the country in the hands of men whose solo idea of political economy is to shut up this country for the benefit of its present occupants -and whose notions of justice consist in the belief that those wlio liave must be compelled to disgorge for tho benefit of those

who have not, then let them return ' more socialists and stick to iSir Joseph Ward' -and bis lel-it-slido policy, if, on tho other hand, they desire a condition of steady progress-in which 'equality of opportunity, hut Slot equality of property, shall bo tho basis for legislative action, leaving full play for tho best that is in each individual, then does a change in members -and Government become desirable. The time has long since gone when the claims of the Opposition to power could be dismissed by tho contemptuous reference: “Oh, they’re a set of hide bound Tories and Conservatives.” Even the most casual student of our modern polities cannot fail to have learned that tho old jibe has no point, 4i lid the legislative views of Air Alassey and his colleagues are quite as progressive as the conditions of the country warrant. Socialism of 1 a kind wo have already in the -State control of public services, and it is inevitable whatever party be in po- ' wor that tho functions of. tho St r in taking direct -action .for tho pro- ; lection of the community as a whole shall he extended in the future, but it means a great deal to this coun- ) try whether the various stages of j evolution .shall proceed on sound lines i that will -give to each forward step a solid basis or whether the sociulism- ! in-a-dav party shall bo given control ' and have the opportunity to wreck tho foundations on which tho Domin- ; ion has been built by stamping out all ; stimulus for individual aotivty. This is the issue that the next elections 1 are likely to be fought around ami it ( behoves electors throughout the land ’ I to study tho question in -all its bearhugs so that they can, when the pro- ; J per -time comes, give a vote without prejudice for tho welfare of their country.