CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIALISM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22901, 2 December 1937, Page 17

CHRISTIANITY AND SOCIALISM

Sir, —To reply as briefly as possible to Messrs. McHaigh, Warburton and "J.C.1?." Mr. McHaigh refuses to accept mv statement that Communists are not'admitted to the membership of the Labour Party. He says that it is all "eyewash." It is difficult to argue with a person who takes up that attitude. A referenco to the constitution and conditions of membership of the Labour Party will show that my statement is correct. Mr. McHaigh goes on to make the serious allegation that many "key" positions in the Labour organisations are held by Communists. 1 challenge him to substantiate that statement. Both ho and Mr. Warburton appear to think that there is only one brand of Socialism, viz., revolutionary Communism and Dictatorship. May I remind them that there are over tliree hundred different brands or sects of Christianity and not all of them are based on individual freedom and libcrtv, as Mr. Warburton asserts. Why did the Huguenots leave France in 15721 Whv did the Quakers leave England in 1620 P There is as much difference between the Labour Party and the Communist Party as there is between, say, a. Quaker and a Catholic. Both are striving for a certain goal by different methods. The Labour Party is pledged to Parliamentary government, to constitutional methods and to democratic control. Popular opinion is to be freely expressed through the ballot box every three years. It is utterly opposed to any form of violence, revolution or Dictatorship. "J.C.li." asks where a democratic Socialist Government exists to-day. Sweden, according to competent observers is one of the most properous and efficiently-governed countries in the world. And Sweden has a democratic Socialist Government. "J.C.li.V' reference to "the violence, murder and pig-morality of Socialism," is almost licvond comment. Does Stockholm or Oslo, or even Leningrad or Moscow, compare unfavourably with Chicago or New York, or London or Sydnev in any of these respects? Any traveller who' has visited these places could put "J.C.li." right on this matter. And can "J.C.8." name any capitalist country where the Christian economics of which lie speaks—"founded on the ideals of love, truth, justice and honesty"—are in operation? Perhaps Messrs. McHaigh and Warburton could assist him in the task. 11. C. Simmons.