Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1920, Page 2

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Delivered every morning in Greymouth, Kumara. Hokitikn, Snbsou, Wallsend, lYiylorville, Cronaduu^ Ngiihere, Blacktall, Nelso.. Creek, Briumer, Te Ehiglia, BototnaHu, P^ .na, lucbbounie, Patara, Bum, Eoimuta, Kotuku, Z£oaua, Aratika, Buuangu, DunolHe, Cobden, Ba..'.2r's, Kokiri, Ahuura, Ikaumtua, Stilhvater. Waiuta. and Boeftou. •SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1920. THE WAY TO SOCIALISM. Recently the Welfare League questioned us as to whether we upheld dictatorship in industry, and cited an assertion .by Lenin that looked as if he advocated some form of dictatorship. Now, until such time as it can be ascertained just what Lenin's industrial administrative policy may be, we think it is only fair to postpone judgment upon, but we think no Labourite or Socialist would stand for a dictatorship. There aTe those who advocate a dictatorship by the proletariat, whilst the sugegstion of Lenin's critics is that his regime is a dictatorship not of, but over, the proletariat. For this reason, we cannot agree with those Socialist? who say Labour hero must copy the Russian Revolution right, clown to the smallest detail. We might quote any number of good Socialists' who *make n very radical distinction between th(* task of the workers in Australasia and in Russia. For instance a discussion on the Soviet system, the dictatorship of the proletariat, and "the Australian alternative," has been' publisher in a booklet by Mr Rad Ross, the well known, Socialist writer, under the title "Revolution in Russia and Australia.' 1 Socialists who cannot see any but the Bolshevist path would do well to read this impartial study of the actua 1 working of th£ Soviet system. The author shows that Lenin and his followers have still many problems to solve, and he argues that, even assuming the idea 1 to be true, the methods employed ir Russia are not inecessarily suitable U Australia. The workers of this coun try would be foolish, he argues, tc abandon the industrial and politica rights they have gained in order tr 1 ' start off scratch with the oppress ed peasants and industrialists of- Russia. The autfhor gives a critical survey of the dictatorship of the proletariat, quoting some authorities in favour of the system, but outweighing these with the evidence of numerous critics, themselves recognised leaders of Socialism, to 'the effect th%t the present rule in Russia is as much a dictatorship over as by the proletariat. Mr Ross says: >( We of ; .the* movement for social justice cannot tinker and tamper with hard won freedoms. We are for liberty .of thought and for free speech — never for a disfranchising plan that even in our owns hands will begin with the exploiter, and recoil iipon, ourselves by giving openings to one section to strangle another. Instead of less, we want more of democracy." To win the real and permanent good of the new Tcgimo in Russia, while avoiding its ills, Mr Ross urges Australian Labour to pursue its present policy of nationalisation, and labour organisation — with some modification^;' andj with increased zieal. Unionism should aim at democratic

control of industry, organisation 9/1 an industrial basis, a«nd the "One Big Union" ideal. The booklet holds little comfort for those who are content with the present organisation of society. It has a distinct value for every student, not only in the informative analysis it gives of the Soviet system, but in. its revelation 'of = the mood of Australian Socialists.