SOCIALISM AND SINGLE TAX.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 6

SOCIALISM AND SINGLE TAX.

REPLY TO MR. FOWLDS. OPPOSITION LEADER'S VIEWS. THE COALITION QUESTION.' SpEAKiNfi at Helensville on Wednesday night. Mr. W. F. Massey, Leader of trieOpposition, took an opportunity of replying to some of the remarks made by the Hon. G. Fowlds at Grey Lynn last week. Mr, Massey said that Mr. Fowlds bad credited him with including the Minister (Mr. Fowlds) amongst the socialist members of the Cabinet. Mr. Massey, however, quoted his Gisbouie speech, which had been referred to, showing that he bad referred to Mr. Fowlds as a singletaxer, and not as a. socialist. ■ Mr. Massey went on to point out the difference between a single-taxer and a socialist, and said single-taxers proposed that all other forms of taxation should be done away' with, except- the one tax upon land, and that the whole burden of the cost of carrying on the business of the country should fall upon the people who were connected with -and. ''Although," added Mr. Massey, '•socialism and single tax are equally bad and equally objectionable, still, socialism is the least dishonest, of the two, inasmuch as, in the words of Henry George, single tax was intended to take away the kernel and leave the shell for the people, on the land at present."

"It was," Mr. Massey added, "an exceedingly disquieting oullo. k for the country when men holding such views were included in the Cabinet."

"AN UNQUALIFIED DENIAL." Mr. Massey also replied to Mr. Fowlds' statement, that the .suggestion for a coalition came from Opposition members. " I give that a flat and unqualified denial," said Mr. Massey. "It did not come from me, and it did not come from any Opposition member. Mr. Fowlds seem,? to think (hat other men are like himself, exceedingly anxious to yet on the Treasury Benches, regardless of principles, but I assure you that I am quite satisfied to remain in Opposition for the term of my natural life- I would sooner go out of political life altogether, and I would sooner break stones on the road for a living than I would support a Cabinet or become a member of a. Government the other members of which are socialists and single-taxers."

Mr. Massey went on to say he hoped the electors at next election would draw the line of cleavage clearly, so as to leave single-taxers and socialists on one side, anil the real Liberals and individualiris on the other.