PROFESSOR MILES AND THE SOCIALISTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15922, 7 May 1912, Page 4

PROFESSOR MILES AND THE SOCIALISTS.

TO THE EDITOIt. Sir.—lii your issue of Tuesday last you published a letter from Mr F. Cooke, commenting upon the attitude of Professor Mills to the New Zealand Socialist Party. As no one has so far replied to your correspondents I should like to correct, if I can, any false impressions which may be created through your correspondent’s statements. It being known that Professor Mills was in Australia, it was resolved by the National Executive of the Trades Councils of New Zealand that he be invited to visit this country to give a series of lectures under thfeir* auspices. This proposition received the support of several prominent members of the Socialist Party, who were also members of the Trades Councils. The proposition duly eventuated. The professor delivered as arranged a series of lectures, which should have pleased any Socialist. At this point I would like to mention that between tho date of the invitation and the arrival of the professor, a controversy had arisen between the Trades Council and the Socialist Party, which resulted in hitter antagonism. I believe it is perfectly true that the professor, on the conclusion of his tour, received an offer from the Socialist Party to lecture in their behalf, but it could hardly be supposed that he should have accepted the offer seeing that he did not approve of the methods and means which the party had recently adopted, or that he should commence a campaign with the object of disrupting the organisation under whose auspices he had deln cred tho o" : T.list message. . . , , As regards the naragrapli quoted by Mr Cooke from Professor Mills’s.works, Mr Cooke must know that this does not refer to any party wliose objective is plainly Socialism, as in a previous chapter he instances that the Socialist Party, whether or no called bv that name, is the party which stands lor Socialism. I don’t think that Mr Cooke should cast the slur of mercenary greed upon the professor, because he must know that his undoubted talents would enable him to earn more than, a modest livelihood in many professions. Also let Mr Cooke remember that ho himself lias been severely attacked by members of the N.Z.F.L. on account of what they describe as his milk-and-water attitude in industral matters, particularly in regard to the strike ot which Mr Cooke has publicly expressed his disapproval. He should also take note that the Socialist Party has amongst its members men who have avowed that they would side with the capitalist to subject sorAe other members of the party. —I am, etc., .

ALBERT MO'ONTFORD AYoolston/May 5.