SOCIALISM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 April 1937, Page 7

SOCIALISM

LABOUR’S GOAL FARMERS WARNED | MR BODKIN’S VIEWS I CONTROL OF THE PRESS An allegation that the Labour Government was adopting a policy of penetration towards its socialistic goal was made by Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P. for Otago Central, in an address at Waipukurau on Tuesday night (states the "Post"). He drew attention to the amount of control the Government already had power to exercise over economic activities, and contended that, if it were returned next election, its policy would become more militant and ruthless. The stage appeared to be set for the control of the Press; “In travelling through New Zealand one is continually being asked the question where is the Labour legislation going to end?” said Mr Bodkin. “Many people fail to appreciate the fact that the ultimate goal of the Labour Party is a Communistic state. It must be remembered that there was little or no difference between Communism and Socialism. Botli were founded upon the teachings of Karl Marx, whose ideal was substitution of the State for private enterprise in every branch of industry. The Socialist hopes to attain that end by. constitutional methods, that is, through the medium of legislation, while the Communist does not hesitate to resort to bloodshed and civil war. When the end is attained there is in fact no difference between the two states. The god of Socialism and Communism is in each case one state.” OBJECTIVE STATED lie said that it would be remembered that before the opening of Parliament last year Labour delegates from all over New Zealand met in conference in Wellington. The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) was the representative chosen by the Government to explain to the conference the objective of the Labour Government and his address was published in the “Standard” of 15th April, 1936. The following were extracts as published in that paper:—

The old order has failed. It has made its contribution. Capitalism has shown the possibilities of production. Its spirit the spirit of acquisitiveness has perished in its efforts. The task to be taken up is ours. . . . What is the remedy? The remedy is organised production for use. Co-operative production, individual use, a new economy of human living to ensure which required unqualified community command over natural resources from which all things needful for life have to be drawn. Social ownership of natural resources, social control of the methods of utilising these resources. Full use of them in each respective field until human needs are satis-, lied. I see no other way of solving existing problems than that of the co-operative commonwealth. It appeared from that' quotation that the object of the -Labour Government was to destroy’ completely private enterprise in' every form in order that State ownership and control might be established in every branch of industry. To give effect to that policy a very extensive legislative programme was essential and Mr Bodkin said that he wished to show how far the Government had travelled along the road to complete socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange.

CREDIT AND TRADE “The first act of the Labour programme was the passing of the Reserve Bank Bill,” he stated. “This measure gave the Government complete control of the credit and currency of the country. Power was also taken over all our London credits and when the Government decided to exercise this power it would then be in the position to control completely the import trade of this country. It could in fact be the only importer of goods from overseas. It must be remembered that the Minister of Finance had been offering to purchase in Britain goods to the extent of the Motherland’s purchases of produce from us. This did suggest that the Government was contemplating entering into the wholesale trade to the exclusion of all other importers. If the language used by Mr Nash in his speech to the Labour delegates had any meaning at all, no other construction could be placed upon it, apd, as we know that State control of the system of distribution is the ideal of every Socialistic State, no more complete method of securing the complete control of the distribution

in New Zealand of imported goods could be devised than that which appears to have been decided upon by the Government.” Mr Bodkin said that the Government representatives might deny that it was their intention to adopt this course, but it was futile for them to do so. The fact remained that they had taken all the legislative authority necessary and were now in a position to give effect to that policy when, in the opinion of the Government, the time was opportune With regard to the policy of controlling the production of the country, the Government appeared to be adopting the policy of peaceful penetration and in all its negotiations with the farming community it was a case of "Will you walk into my parlour?” said the spider to the f’y.” The powers of the Primary Products Marketing Act provided all the machinery necessary to lake complete control of the primary industries. At the moment the provisions of the Act were applicable only to the dairy industry, but the powers of the Act could be applied by the Government to all primary produce. TEST FOR FARMERS "Can any farmer in New Zealand define the meaning of the language used by Mr Nash, ‘Unqualified community command over natural resources from which all things needful for life have to he drawn?" asked Mr Bodkin. "These words can only mean the lands of New Zealand, and. when the Minister later on stales that there must be social ownership of natural resources, social control of the methods of utilising these resources, there can only be one meaning possible—let every farmer apply that policy to his own farm I hat is i.iu-j

test, and I ask you, can the landowner of this country support the Government in its policy? '•' “I am not suggesting that this policy will be put in hand this year. As I stated before, the Government appears to have committed itself to a policy of peaceful penetration, and it appears as if it desires to win another election and then, after it has abolished the country quota, its policy will no doubt become more militant and ruthless. “It no doubt realises that those whose life savings are invested in private enterprise will make a big fight, and it is apparently intended that privateenterprise is to be allowed to function until the Government decides that the time is opportune to crush it out. It knows that in every British democracy the first line of defence is the Courts and the Press. So far as the farming community is concerned the right of appeal to the Courts has already been taken away.

“The Primary Products Marketing Act provides that the price at which produce will be taken shall be fixed by Order in Council and section 23 of this Act is as follows:—“The validity of any Order in Council fixing the prices of any dairy produce under section 20 or section 22 of this Act shall not be questioned on the ground that due consideration has not been given to any matter that is required to be taken into consideration in fixing such prices, or any other ground whatsoever.” “It will be seen that any farmer who is dissatisfied with the price cannot appeal to the Courts for relief. This section is directed against the farming community alone. Nobody but the farmer would desire to appeal to the Courts, and he would desire to do so only if his produce was taken at less than market values.

WHO IS AFRAID? “If the Government intends to be just and reasonable with the farmer, why should it be afraid to allow the Courts to adjudicate upon the merits of the farmer's case? The truth appears ! to be that the Government representaj tives are determined that it should be in complete and absolute control and i free to deal with private enterprise in | whatever way it thinks fit in order tr | carry out its ideals of Socialism. “It looks also as if the stage is to be set up for the control of t|ie Press. The Government is absolute master of the radio service, and recognising that every dictator in the world has had to muzzle the Press, it looks as if something similar is to be attempted in Ne\v Zealand. “If such a censorship can be established it will no doubt serve the Government well when the real fight comes between the Government and private enterprise. That will be the testing time, and it looks as if the Government in New Zealand is working to a definite plan. “During next session, and probably during the life of this Parliament, it will be content to forge its weapons and protect its machinery. If successful at the poll next election it will no doubt seek to apply its legislation to every branch of industry. Those who have any stake in New Zealand would be well advised to take up the fighl for private enterprise without delay.”