LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14928, 28 February 1912, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

AN EXPLANATION. Sir, —I notice in the report of the inter* view I gave your representative on Monday las-, a statement in the last paragraph for which I must disclaim responsibility. I -was mentioned as being in a position to advise the Newmarket Borough Council concerning^"*' 8 matters of ; road construction. This, o £ I course, is not the case, and I think it is ! only fair to the engineer of that borough j and to myself to ask you to state that ray position here is to assist Mr. John Ross, the contractor, and not any public body whatsoever. N. G. Oeoiopton. February 27. SOCIALISM IN PRACTICE. ' ( Sir,—ln a recent issue your correspondent, "E. R. Hartley," seeks to defend socialisms by summing up: " That the socialists want all tho land, all the buildings, all tho machinery, et<;., for all the people." Well, tho people have air that already; socialism right up to the hilt, and something more. Tho people- have all the .'and they have improved, unless they have sold their labour for improving it The people have all Iho houses they have built, unless they havo sold their labour for building. ■ The people have all the machinery they have made, unless they have sold their labour for making it. The real sooialistio question thus is: Has a man the right to sen his labour, i or its products?" If this right is conceded, it carries the -whole question of; capitalism, , with it. Tho right to own, to sell, and to buy. — •*• " 'KOiBBBt Sloan. Takapuna. , ■■!" ~:;■,.:;>