SOCIALISM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11665, 23 August 1898, Page 4

SOCIALISM.

]\Lr Sidney Webb, this prominent English Socialist, who is expected to arrive in Christchurch on Thursday next, appears, froth the remarks made by liim to a newspaper interviewer at Wellington, to have been fairly successful during Iris brief stay in this country in obtaining a fair grasp of our political conditions, and lie Ims been able to institute interesting comparisons l>etween New Zealand and older centres of democratic activity. To be sure, there is not much in his reported utterances which he could not have learned in London, but his statements have a negative value for the evidence they afford that Mr Webb has so far escaped the perverting influences which tbo Often prevent English visitors getting a correct view of the colony’s affairs, Tliete is the rUote rfa»9fl fob gratification at this fact when it is home in mind that our latest visitor from the Mother Country has been the guest in Wellington of a political opponent of the present Government. There is a good deal that is valuable in Mr Webb’s comparisons between the bases of general and' local government here and. in England, and also in liis statements as to the effect of widening the local franchise ill the latter country. The Old Land has shown that an extension of democratic control in local government does not spell deterioration and ruin, but progress, pufity and improved status of the governing bodies. These facts have beet! recently set forth ill 5Ur columns, hut the opponents of municipal reform may pay more heed to them when the witness is a disinterested visitor, who speaks from personal knowledge and observation. There is Some ground for Mr Webb's surprise that So few women take part in the work of local government and educational supervision in this country. For tliis anomalous condition of things women aro not, however, altogether to blame. They are still debarred from many positions, and those bodies for which they are qualified are either elected on a very restricted franchise, as in the case of municipal councils, or by oblique methods, as with the Charitable Aid Boards ahd Education Boards. 11l addition to these obstacles to true popular representation, there are in this country comparatively few women possessed of the necessary leisure to undertake public work requiring a large amount of time and attention. There is in Mr Webb’s remarks a powerful argument for the extension of the municipal franchise in this country and for the removal of the disabilities Under which women labour. At the same time, it may be hoped that Mr and Mrs Webb will be able to carry with them from this country an equally powerful argument for the extension of the parliamentary franchise to the Women Of Britain. Mr Webb’s Warning on the subject of the “ spoils to the victors ” system comes very aptly from one who has recently been studying the effect of that system in the United States. There are other subjects upoh which we should have liked to hear our visitor’s views, as, for example, the industrial outlook in England and the United States, the prospects of socialistic progress in various parts of the world, and the probable effect of the socialistic legislation passed in this country. The Christchureh Socialists may induce him to give an informal talk on these and other matters of interest during his stay here. An interchange of ideas and impressions, while it would not impose a strain like a formal lecture, Would perhaps do more to bring a clearer understanding and a greater harmony of aim and action amongst English and New Zealand reformers Who are seeking to uplift society by the common moans of State and municipal collectivism.