SOCIALISM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20901, 17 June 1931, Page 12

SOCIALISM.

Sir, —Mr. Bloodworth complains that I misquoted him. In his letter he bracketed Russia and Italy, and 6aid, "If it should turn out to be true that Russia and Italy under their present systems can feed all these people, can employ them all, and can raise their general standard of education and culture, etc." Clearly he wished his readers to believe that such was the aspiration of the Russian Government. It is equally clear that is not the aspiration of the Russian Government; but I gave Mr. Bloodworth the credit of its being his aspiration. He now repudiates such a statement; that is not his aspiration, it is only a picture of what an Utopia these countries would bo if it were so, and leads us nowhere. He puts the whole world depression now existing, with its huge number of unemployed, as being duo to capitalism. He does not attempt to prove it would have been different or better if all these countries had been Communistic, or givo any example of it being better where the rule is Communistic. To bo consistent, if all the sins of omission and commission nro to be debited to capitalism, then all the advance in comfort, education, civilisation and freedom must be credited to the same cause, unless he has the audacity to claim all the good for Socialism. Mr. Bloodworth says, "It is a fundamental of Socialism that there shall bo the complete common ownership and control of tho means of production, distribution and exchange." That being a fundamental of Socialism, it follows that the logical and inevitable sequence of Socialism is Communism and Soviet rule as witnessed in Russia. Thero is no half-way house. How complete and rapid is tho slide is exemplified in New South Wales, where the Soviet example is being faithfully copied, or Soviet instruction faithfully obeyed? And now we see repudiation of debts, sequestration of tho money of the thrifty who had entrusted their savings to the State Savings Bank. (Both justified as being blows to the hated capitalist.) In defiance of the economic position, shorter hours of labour are to be worked; higher wages are to bo paid; and unionists only employed. The money to keep this mad state of affairs going is to be wrung out of tho haled capitalist by higher taxation, and refusal to pay interest. Now follows tho war on the intellectuals by reducing all salaries above £SOO to that level: also a proposal to punish by heavy fines and imprisonment anyone who dares to criticise the doings of the Government. Wo only require Russia's huge army of spies, and its Red Cheka Army to complete tho picture of a Russianised New South Wales! From Stockholm comes the news that at Leningrad starving people stormed and demolished a great provision store and plundered the stock. Cheka troops were called out, who fired on the crowds and charged them with bayonets. Many dead and wounded were left lying in the streets. But Mr. Bloodworth "would like Mr. Thornes to know that he does not believe all he reads about Russia, Italy or New South Wales!" There is no one so blind as those who won't see! 231, Parnell Road. J. Thornes*