“Rights” and “Commands”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 122, 7 May 1936, Page 8

“Rights” and “Commands”

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Apparently I am a “capitalist” in Mr. Hannah’s opinion—l may bo so to the tune of my small nest egg accumulated by hard work and economy over many years. Perhaps he argues that money is not necessary to make a man a capitalist! Mr. Hannah talks of the “one just system of Government and that is one which provides equal rights for all” and says I can call this any name I like. Good—l shall, with h>s permission, call it anything but Socialism. If Socialist writers are to be believed that creed gives no rights to any individual but only obligations. Every one is to work according to order from the State as represented by Government. There is no freedom of choice. Mi. Sidney Webb and others have told us this frequently. The whole population would be under orders of State agents, or trade union bosses. It is cropping up already bv the proposals to compel everyone who works for a salary or wages to join a union whether he wishes to or not —at a minimum expense of ]/- a week tax, to fatten a union official. This is not providing equal “rights’’ for all but takes awav the right of decision from all. Instead of "rights” we are to have "commands” from Government bosses. Mr. Hannah says the word Socialism can be misconstrued —well, so can any word—but I am relying on Socialist writers whose words are so clear that no misconstruction is possible. They make it as plain as a pike staff that under that policv all individual freedom of action will, go by the board. The Socialist politician apparently considers that the Government is com posed ot such supermen, that thev can run the complicated business affairs of the country better than those who are trained to the job . Yet most of them have had no experience whatever. No one has anv rights beyond that'of a cog in the State machine.—Yours, etc AJAX. ’ Hastings, May 6, 1936.