Correspondence. LABOUR’S OPPORTUNITY

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1940, Page 10

Correspondence. LABOUR’S OPPORTUNITY

OIL FROM COAL

I To the Editor, “The Magazine Page,” “Grey River Argus.”]

Madame,—rLabour’s objective ni New Zealand is "the- socialisation of the means of production, distribution ana exchange.” Now the difficulties that a Labour or Socialist Government must overcome in socialising any particular 1 industry depend greatly upon the degree to which that industry is already established. If an enterprise is firmly entrenched and involves many interests, much hostility from those directly concerned may be expected to any proposal lor its socialisation. On the other hand, if the question is to develop on a Socialist basis a class of industry hitherto wholly unexploited by the private Capitalist the same type of objections obviously cannot be made. If no one, that is to say, stands to become unemployed or otherwise injured economically or in any-way adversely affected by a certain act of socialisation, then manifestly whatever opposition is forthcoming must be based simply upon a general dislike of any challenge to the private profit system. And opposition of this nature, if a Labour Government expects to make any headway towards its objective, must under no circumstances be allowed to obstruct the purposes of a Labour Government in power. Thus a Labour Government should be very happy indeed when the opportunity presents rtfself for the 'establishment of an entirely new industry, and one of undoubted .importance to the well-being of the community. Such an', industry, in New Zealand, is the production of oil' from coal by the “Turner Pro-

cess.” The commercialisation of the “Turner Process” would have the most far-reaching repercussions upon the economic and social lite of New Zealand. By the economic production of a high-grade petrol from New Zealand coal the industry would effect great savings in foreign exchange. From the use of the smokeless fuel which is an important by-product of Mr. Turner’s process, much of the toil and dirt inevitably associated with the open fire method of household heating would be eliminated. And with the resoui ces of gas and electricity liberated and rendered available by the process, ancillary industries of a varied nature would be made feasible and economic. And all this would be done at no-one’s expense. No-one would be dispossessed or uprooted or in any way injured by the Socialist establishment of the “Turner Process” for the production of oil from ijoal. No-one, at least, in New Zealand. It is true, of course, that, the act of rendering New Zealand independent or partially independent of foreign sources of fuel oil would react adversely upon the interests of the capitalist oil companies which hitherto have had a monopoly of the New Zealand market. Doubtless, these interests are already organising and pulling strings to frustrate Mr. Turner’s efforts and io retain, with no regard whatever for the wellbeing of the New Zealand people, their monopoly in this country. Their opposition, however should not influence our Labour Government. The history of the big oil concerns of the world is quite well known. Those who have examined that story will waste no tears over a threatened ;curtailment of the profits of the oil magnates. Indeed, if the potentialities of the “Turner Process” enable us to choose between advancing the common welfare of this Dominion and safeguarding the bank-balances of the foreign petrol capitalists, there can be no doubt as to what should be our choice. 1 conclude tha the New Zealand Labour Government will miss a golden opportunity, and will cause many to wonder just how sincere are its Socialist professions, if it fails to give Mr. Turner the co-operation and assistance justified by the apparent merits of his process. Mr. Turner, upon technical and economic grounds, has made out his case. And the specific Labour case., for a thorough-going Socialist exploitation of his invention, needs no further elaborating. The Labour Movement now expects developments. We will not be too patient, because Mr. Turner, with scant encouragement from official quarters, has already spent twelve months battling with hostile influences. It’s time that things got moving. Yours,, etc., Wm. L. ROBERTSON. Rapahoe, Runanga. 13th. April, 1940.