SOCIALISTS AND THE EMPIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22025, 4 February 1935, Page 12

SOCIALISTS AND THE EMPIRE

Sir,—ln your issue of January 29 the New Zealand Welfare League asserts that the Socialist Party of Great Britain is out to dissolve the British Emipre, basing tho claim on a statement alleged to have been made bv Mr. William Mellor: "I will do all I can to encourage the disruption of the capitalist system." Now, what has this statement to do with the disruption of the Empire, unless the Welfare League recognises the capitalist system and the Empire as synonymous terms? Has not the Socialist Party a finer conception of Empire than has its opponents? My understanding is that the Socialist Party visualises an everexpanding empire of humanitarian ideals, an empire which other civilised countries may wish to join, and one which will eventually cover the globe, not an empire surrounded only by banners and battleships. The party, however, is not so foolish as to imagine that this can be achieved in a night, or even in a generation. As for the disruption of the capitalist system—well, why not? It cannot be denied that the system has stimulated'scientific and industrial progress, but glaring abuses have grown up with it, and the time for its overhaul is now overdue. Whether we like it or not, it is apparent that we are moving on toward a Socialistic State. The professed Socialists wish to accelerate the pace, while the others have their convictions forced upon them grudgingly. It is only a question of degree. Progress.