SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17292, 6 October 1916, Page 4

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

If our readers did not 1 realise how the war haß softened tho > word “Socialism ” in tho minds of intelligent people they would bo ■ inclined to rub their eyes on seeing a Press Association telegram from .Wanganui printed in another column. vThe message conveys the indignation folt by Mr G. V. Pearce, 1 M.P-, for Patea, over a rise in wool freights imposed by “ the shipping monopoly,” and tho member urges the Government*to buy or charter ships to break the monopoly down, since th 6 iuorease means a tax of £1,000,000 levied by private enterprise upon tho sheepfarmerS of New Zealand. Truly, we are getting on. Two or three years ago it would have been wildly impossible to get such a proposal from tmeh a source. Mr Pearce was thon a politician of the individualist school, -honest and sincere, of course, but quite a firm opponent of State undertakings. It is therefore a great concession and shows a remarkable conversion, to find this gentleman vigorously trying to stir the Government into action on the lines taken recently by the Labour Government of Australia. And yet Mr Pearce’s case is only symptomatic of the transformation of thought which has taken place throughout tho Empire. The peril of a German victory, which politically would, mean a triumph for despotism, has overcome deep-rboted prejudices and exposed their fallacies, i.for> it is fefund that not in individualism, but in collective action, which is Socialism, lies the salvation of the Empire. The Governments of the Empire #have taken over private ’railways, commandeered .ships, factories, wheat, meat, cheese and other supplies, “Seized war profits and conscripted men—alb purely Socialistic acts,' performed for the common good of the wholo people. The war has awakened the nation to the truth that’tho interests of the individual are subordinate to those of the State, and the Statute Books of the Empire in the .last two years liave been packed with enactments , based upon principles of Socialism. We make this comment not to emphasise the conversion of a single politician, whose suggestion to Mr Allen is worthy of support and will, ho doubt, bo. carefully, considered. Our object is rather to emphasise the fact and, if we can, its moral; There are a few people in our midst who are out of sympathy with the war. They oppose conscription j they clamour lor “ peace ” ; and, most strange to say, they call themselves Socialists. They object to help in a war that is advancing their cause more . than they could have furthered it in generations. Even so staid and,, conservative- an organ as “The Times” recently found itself “ face to face with tho fact that, whether wo like it or not, wo are rapidly approaching the timo when many of tho principles advanced by tho Socialists of a former generation must bo acceptbd by tho nation if it is to keep abreast of its competitors." Sotting aside, of course, tho “ wild extravagances of Socialist cranks,” the London journal states that “ the logical mind cannot refuse to recognise that in many activities of life the day

of the individualist is ending,, and that, whatever system may ultimately be evolved, the future of industrialism is bcftind up with co-operation in some form.” For example, it is asked: “Does anyone suppose that railways will ever be allowed: to revert to their former state of wasteful incoherency? In this Way it is 4hite conceivable that we shall got Socialism imposed from above rather than forced on us from below. 1 The changes brought about by the last two years have been so rapid that in the rush of events many men have failed to realise their full significance; but that things can ever be as they were in the summer of 1914 is impossible.” As we write another telegram arrives supporting the trend of this article. A gathering of farmers, alarmed at the same cause that has moved Mr Pearce, indicates a disposition, though reluctantly, to withdraw its objection to “State interference.' The same change of opinion is here revealed that has influenced tho London “Times,” which before tho war would probably have denounced a proposal to nationalise tho railways as one of the “ wild extravagances of Socialist cranks.” And yet a few people in enlightened Now Zealand’, calling themselves Socialists, appear to regard the issuo of the war with .indifference.