SOCIALISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 7

SOCIALISM.

TO THE EDITOII. Sir, —Tho recent letters 011 Socialism in your columns show such utter ignorance of the subject on the part of Hie writers that one is amazed at their temerity. Mr. Sn-nford ought to know bettor. I liavu seen him at many Socialist meetings, and once on their platform. He really ought to confine himself to those fishy subjects in vvhioh he is so expert. Apparently the sole aim of your correspondents is to outline a childish travesty of Socialism, and then triumphantly demolish it to their own intense satisfaction, which is, of course, very amusing, but not very instructive. These letters, and other ridiculously inaccurate statements regarding Socialism, which appear in your correspondence columns from time to time, lead mo to think that W. I'. Reeves (a Fabian Socialist) lias worked in our midst in vain. Recently I had a letter from George Bernard Shaw, tho English writer, in which lie remarked 'lint Mr. Reeves was to tho English what an English missionary is to the Hottentots, and yet, in Mr. Reeves' native country, one meets with ideas on Socialism which should make an educated Maori blush.

Books on the subject are numerous and cheapour library contains several works— papers preaching it are common, our legislation is permeated with it, and still this ignorance exists. Mr. John A. Beale should obtain one of the numerous penny catechisms on Socialism, than ho might be able to distinguish it from communism; the mere fact that he has read one of Bellamy's novels does not necessarily qualify him to write half a, column on Socialism; and if "John Johnson" is so keen on economics will he show us wherein economics and Socialism differ? It is a significant fact that most professors of economics aro Socialists. It is hopeless arguing with these correspondents, but I can assure Mr. Beale that Socialism does not teach an equal division of all wealth, ,nor does it propose interfering with evolution (as if anything could), or with i the Almighty's cosmic scheme, as Mr. Sanford imagines it would. One word re the middleman. I read in a recent Sydney newspaper that lace sold at 6d a yard is bought at 2d a dozen; Panamas sold at 7s 6d to 10s each cost 18s to 20s a dozen : tea sold at Is to Is 3d' a lb, bought at a, shilling a chest! I could give many instances in Auckland where the wholesale middlemen allow 55 per cent, and 65 per cent, discount to those in the swim. Can Mr. Beale seriously argue that these middlemen, with their extortionate profits, are a necessity?— am, etc., Pekoy G. Andrew. Tho Nook, Hillsboro'.