SOCIALISM AND ANTI-SOCIALISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13497, 25 May 1907, Page 3

SOCIALISM AND ANTI-SOCIALISM.

Sir, — sometimes seems futile to combat the present full-tide of socialism, because everybody's ideas are so permeated with it that even so-called anti-socialists are unable to see that while with one breath they condemn socialism, with the other they advocate some more subtle form of it, and even worse, some flagrant instanco of it, •which makes the remark uttered some years ago, "We are all socialists now," very true. For instance, the anti-socialist party at the recent. elections arc not at presentadvocating taking.: over the tramway service (porhaps because it. -will not bo practical;* politics for 30 years), but they have pushed •; on ; the. municipal electric lighting and power ? scheme, and have only shelved for a time the question of i housing tho poor, which are. as rank in the way of socialism as anything that can well bo imagined.; Parliamentary polities are just the same.' Government arid Opposition are both tarred with the socialistic brush, nor is it very much a question as to what degree, but rather of who should carry out the socialistic schemes. The outs, of course, think they could ; do I better than the ibs. The outs are also afraid to propose anything, in case it might prove popular, -and bo taken .up by the Government. Do not let'Us thorough anti-socialists despond, however. Let -us argue and fight against the pricks as best we can, in the suro and certain hope, that reaction will come, and be ■ more thorough in proportion ; as the opposing action is extreme; for " action and reaction are opposite and equal," as truly in social matters as in physical. Tho returning tide, or reaction, will want workers for it in preparation. .. Argument will never tell so long, as the action is in full swing, but there is a Nemesis fast pursuing socialism, infinitely. more powerful than argument. All socialistic schemes are expensive. If it is inspection'and interference with previous liberties, it means a largo Government staff and proportionate heavy taxation. If it is municipal or government trading, it means, raising loans, the two jtogether hurrying fast towards the limits of taxation and the limits of borrowing. Wo i should have reached .both long ago but for ! the pre-empaion by a small population of a wonderful , heritage in; a magnificent country. Nay, is not the limit already almost reached? We want roads and railways, and can only afford to borrow a million a year, while the back country shifts as best it can in a primitive state, and wo.dare not borrow more for fear of ; ruining our credit. Although fresh socialistic schemes arise every day, would it not be as well for socialists to comploto and perfect one scheme at a time, say the railways, before embarking on any fresh undertakings?' But it is not in the nature of things to . experiment slowly. An idea gains impetus and gathers as ;it rolls like a snowball. Everybody gives it a pti§h on : towards its fate of disintegration. > The fates aro with it as it rolls on and grows, but Nemesis follows it. Fortunately our mundane experience is against universal cataclysms. Here and there, from time to time, the borrowing limit and taxation limit will be. reached, bringing about the salutary reaction, and fortunate will .be the towns and countries which, when the day of reckoning comes, have; the least ' retrench-; ment to make. ' I suggest to the present Opposition that they could easily popularise anti-socialism by making promises that if opportunity offered might bo • fulfilled, whereas the promises of Socialism, even if fulfilled, are discounted by the cost of them. The old idea of Liberal meant liberty, justice, and lightening of the burden of taxation. The new, so-called, Liberals' idea is socialism, and means interfering with everybody and everything, and being interfered with and piling up the agony of taxation and de bt. : - OLD Lieehal.-