LABOUR'S PANACEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18355, 22 March 1923, Page 7

LABOUR'S PANACEA.

SOCIALIST STATE.

COMMONS DEBATE OPENS.

CONFISCATION REPUDIATED.

MINISTERIAL REPLY.

PATH TO NATIONAL RUIN.

By TeJeeniDh—Prei" Association—Copyright. ("Received 9.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. March 20. In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Philip Snowden (Labour) introduced his motion calling attention to the failure of the capitalistic system adequately to utilise and organise national resources and productive power so as to provide a necessary standard of life for a vast number of the population, and urging that legislative effort be directed to its gradual supersession by a system based on public ownership. Mr. Snowden said that capitalism had failed to fulfil its functions to give the people a good world in which to live and adequately to utilise national resources and productive power. Between 1874 and 19C8 wages increased only 10 per cent., whereas in the same period incomes received by non-Labour contributaries increased twelvefold. , The mass of the people were working under unhealthy conditions for low wages, while at the other end of the social scale people were so rich that even imagination could not devise means Oi spending their superabundant wealth. He did not propose revolution and would always resist confiscation, which would end in disaster. There was no analogy between Socialism and Bolshevism which were enemies of each other. Sir P. Lloyd Greame, President of the Board of Trade, said that the motion economically and psychologically was impossible. State control in every case was unimaginative and inelastic, and checked all initiative. Britain's foreign trade depended on efficiency and initiative. These were absent from Socialism, which would make the rich man poor, but would not make the poor rich. Socialism was contrary to the instinct of the mass of British people, and would bring the country's credit and trade to disaster. Sir Alfred Mond moved the National Liberals' amendment:"That this House, believing that the abolition of private interest in means of production and distribution would impoverish the people and aggravate existing evils, is unalterably opposed to any legislation depriving the State of the benefits of individual initiative, and believing that far-reaching reforms can be accomplished without overturning the present basis of society, is resolved to prosecute proposals which, by removing the evil effects of monopoly and waste, will conduce to the well-being of the people." He argued that, the capitalistic system would increase wealth better than any other devisable system. The debate by general consent was adjourned until after Easter. The Independent Liberals have given notice of the following amendment:— "That this House, believing that the attempt to establish Socialism, whether based on compensation or confiscation, would produce widespread dislocation, destroy initiative, create bureaucratic despotism, lessen production, inflict fatal injuries on our overseas trade, and lower the general standard of life, declares that existing evils can and should be remedied not by revolutionary changes, but by a wise, peaceful, economic policy, which will reduce public burdens, by insisting for those engaged in production on an equitable distribution of its fruits, by opening up natural resources, and by liberating enterprise under a system of taxation which elbes not penalise improvements, but offers equality of opportunity to everybody."