MR. FOWLDS ON SOCIALISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13761, 28 May 1908, Page 6

MR. FOWLDS ON SOCIALISM.

REPLY TO MR. MASSEY. C7NLY A SINGLETAXER. The question of socialism was referred to bv the Hon. Geo. Fowlds. in his speech at Grey Lynn last evening. When he was first appointed a member of the Government. he said, the-Leader of the Opposition raised the cry that lie was a '".singletaxer,'' but now he had found a new bo"ev. Speaking at Gisborne, Mr. Mat-fey had said that six of the Ministers were socialists, and that the oilier two (the Prune Minister and Native Minister) were the friends of socialist's. He (Mr. Fowlds) was not going to discuss the nierite or demerits of socialism. " I am not a socialist," he continued, "' but I would rather be a socialist than a supporter of a system that works out for the impoverishment of the great mass of the people."' (Ap plause.) Continuing, he said he believed in certain principles which Mr. Ma-ssey had always used against him, for the purpose of frightening farmers, but would point out that • single tax and socialism were, the very antithesis of each other. Single tax meant a reduction of Government regulation and control to a minimum, whereas socialism would mean an extension of the management of industry and enterprise I o". the part of the community. Socialism j and single tax were as wide as the poles j asunder, and if Mr. Massey had studied I political economy he would know that.' | lie intended to place Mr. Massey on the | horny of a. dilemmn. " lie knows that I urn a single-taxer. and if he knows what single tax- is, and what socialism is, he must know that I am not a socialist. In .including me" amongst the six Minister.-, who, he says, are socialists, he is either exhibiting an ignorance of the fundamental difference between the two, or,, else he is falsely misrepresenting my position. He can take it as he chooses, but clearly he cannot avoid one or the. other of the two conclusions." | Right through the world, Mr. Fowlds j went- on to say, there was a growing recogj nit-ion of the need of some radical change ! to secure a more just and equal distribu- ; (ion of the products of labour than existed !at the present time. If the change was [ not effected in one particular way, it would j be brought about- in another way : t.-uvt j way might be socialism. The present sys- ; tern was not likely to continue very long, j because the schoolmaster had been abroad. I "The man who keeps his coat on," he said, i "has a large proportion of the product of labour, whilst- the ma.ii who has his coat off gets very little of what his labour produces." DANGERS OF THE CREED. I [l)Y TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] | Milton, Wednesday, j Addressing his constituents to-night, Mr. | Jas. Alien, M.P. for Bruce, pointed out s the dangers that would occur from sociali ism carried out .to its logical conclusion, ! which meant the abolition of family duties, i the .Church, and the marriage tie. I ' — j, FARMERS TO TAKE A STAND i [BY telegraph.—PßESS association.] i • Feiloing, Wednesday. ; At tho conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union to-day, the following resolution was carried — ' " That the time has arrived when the union as a whole must take a firm stand against the socialistic party." Mr. S. J. Carman, who proposed the motion. said socialism had risen in its might, and it would do more to down the farmers' interests than any other thing. The farming community should send its own representatives to Parliament. Mr. F. Hockey said the outstanding feature of socialism was the abolition of all -.private ownership. The rights and privij leges of property owners were being steadily i infringed. Mr. J. Morrison said he was a-i Government- supporter, but would vote against the Government unless they stemmed the tide of socialism, but he thought the Farmers' Union should keep out of party politics. j He favoured amalgamation with the Goj vernment- to support the return of anti- | socialist members.I Mr. Hadfield said he felt convinced that members of the Ministry would feel thankful for any help in stemming the tide of socialism. One. member of the Ministry had told him that the Government were puzzled what to do, and were trying to think out what stand they should 'take in the matter. * '