THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1938 THE SOCIALIST STATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1938 THE SOCIALIST STATE

Aucklanders have been reminded on at least four occasions this week that New Zealand is fast being turned into a Socialist State. Mr. W. H. Hemingway drew attention to the trend at the Rotary Club, the Welfare League published a pamphlet tracing present tendencies in some detail, Professor Algie spoke at Pukekohe of the consequent threat to freedom, while at Taihape last night the Leader of the Opposition emphasised the restrictions placed on individual liberty and on industry by Socialism. Actually there should be no need for these reminders. A Labour Government is in power representing the Labour Party, the first plank in whose platform is "the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange." That first principle of policy has been asserted for years by the Labour Party, which should properly be named the Socialist Party. Few in the past took much notice of Labour's cherished doctrine. Expressed in long words, it did not seem to mean very much. It is a very different matter now, as the people wake up to the fact that Labour in office is applying its cherished doctrine. Seeing is believing; experience teaches. More than an ordinary change of Government was made by the electors in November., 1935. Those were placed in power who are setting about .changing the people's whole way of life by putting into operation the alien philosophy of Karl Marx. The process has gone far enough to irk people and arouse their resentment. They can no longer assert with confidence, "We're a free people," because they hear Mr. Savage's oft-repeated rejoinders, "We're the Government, aren't we," and "nothing is going to stop us."

Nothing, it may be supposed, except an adverse vote at the general election. That is why Mr. Hemingway spoke of this as a "momentous year." Either the electors will halt Labour's reckless career or New Zealand will become a Socialist State. The Government has gone a long way in two years and, given a further lease of life, will go "the full journey"—to quote the Prime Minister again. In theory Socialism has appealed to many people, but now it is necessary to consider Socialism in practice. It does not arrive on angels' wings and automatically establish Utopia. It must be put into force by human agents, by men with ordinary human failings like Mr. Savage, Mr. Semple aad Mr. Lee. They cannot do everything, of course, and are bringing to their aid an army of bureaucrats and civil servants, of controllers and directors and inspectors. These will be needed, and, as everyone knows, are being recruited by thousands. Their business in the Socialist State will be to control, direct and inspect the people as to their actions, their work, their food and drink, their business and pleasure—all their comings and goings. Everything is to be socialised —"the means of production, distribution and exchange." Beginnings have been made in many directions. The State is asserting that under Socialism it can manage, plan and generally arrange things better for the people than they. can manage for themselves. But the assertion is being much questioned. Are the politicians and the bureaucrats, who must be the daily agents of Socialism, so much wiser than the general run of people? Can Mr. Savage, Professor Shelley and the rest look after everybody's affairs better than each can do for himself 1 It does net stand to reason. Socialism may be beautiful in theory, but in practice it has to be applied by fallible human beings.

The question for New Zealanders is whether they can trust Mr. Savage and his colleagues to undertake so much responsibility on their behalf. They are setting out to do everything for the people, bo mind everybody's business. They believe, for instance, that they can spend the people's money to better advantage than those who earn it. Is anyone of the Opinion, however, that Mr. Semple is laying out the money to better advantage than the individual worker or producer could do ? People would prefer to keep more of their own earnings, and spend or save as it pleased them. Nor is it only a matter of money. People are no longer free to follow the calling they desire. The "closed shop" rules in many occupations, and the Industrial Efficiency Act hag closed free access to some businesses and industries, and is designed to close it to many more. A man may not even set himself up as a fisherman. The dairy farmer no longer has any say in the price or disposal of the fruits of his labour. The listener cannot call the radio tune through a representative board. Mr. Semple is created dictator of transport with no appeal to justice through the Courts. Market control and pricefixing has begun. The people will think especially and ruefully oIE oranges and bread, but the process has gone further than these two. Here, then, are a few examples of Socialism in practice. It is only a beginning, but more and more people feel they have had enough of it. Unless, however, they check Socialism by their votes at the ballot-box, they are going to get more of it. They will be more closely directed, controlled and inspected, and be asked to pay more to keep directors, controllers and inspectors. A reasonable alternative is offered by Mr. Hamilton in his policy speech published this morning the encouragement of, enterprise and industry, the safeguarding of the rewards of labour and production, and a chance for the people to live their own lives, as free men and women. ; j