SOCIALISM IN NORWAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 April 1928, Page 10

SOCIALISM IN NORWAY

A SPEEDY F METRE The fir .si .Socialist (iovernment in Norway speedily failed. Il was formed on 261 h January aiul defeated on bth !■ i*brunry. In 1 1s brief fortnight of existence if .succeeded in 11 o 1 11111u ex, epl Scaring the sober elements of tile country. to whatever pally liny belonged, savs "llie '.limes. The Ministerial declaration with which it inaugurated its career was simply a .'Socialist in,in; leslo. By beginning In- declaration with the words. "On behalf of the La hour Party," the Prune Minister. M. Hornsrud, seemed to imph that lie had no ambition to repres-en: the nation as tr whole. He proceeded to develop a programme of extreme Socialist moas ures, borrowing freely in the process from the tenets of ('oinmunism. The consequences were inevitable and immediate. Government securities fell in value, tint! millions of kroner went mil of the country. The emilidcuce of liiiancial, industrial. and political circles was badly shaken. .A Radical motion of ren.-ur,- was in trodiiceil in the Storting by the former .Prime .Minister. M. Mnwinckcl. Il received general siqijiorl and was carried by a suliicient majority. lb-\ lew ing the situation in Norway. "The Times" say.s commercial and a>lminisl rat ive socialisation had alivady been earned to extreme lengths. Government-, not Socialist in name had operated or .supported every form of industrial and municipal enterprise. The wine Iraife. was a ( iovei'iiment all'air. Railways, with (lie pockets of the taxpayers in draw upon for rovering losses, provided third-class sleeping aceoinmndat ion. All Government ollicials could have all their letters franked at Slate expense. Houses were built by mtiuieipalitics for the; heuelit of manual workers and leaked at rents which were wholly uneconomic. Since the Conservative and Radical Parties had been so socialistic in their conduct of affairs, there was manifestly an opportunity for the 'Socialist Party to adopt a conservative attitude and restore stability. The Labour leader, however, preferred to try to outrun his predecessors; and lie appears to have brought his country into an awkward impasse.