SOCIALISM QUALIFIED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23170, 17 October 1938, Page 10

SOCIALISM QUALIFIED

Labour's victory on Saturday can be freely accepted as an endorsement by the majority of the people of the Government's election programme, but there are important factors which prove that it cannot be construed as a mandate for extremism. Much was made during the election campaign of the issue between socialism and private enterprise, but the Prime Minister himself denied from several platforms that the full implications of socialism were to be found in his party's policy. It is now his duty and the duty of his Government to make good these assurances of moderation. In the first place, Mr. Savage declined to accept as gospel the views on socialism expressed by Mr. Lee in his now famous book. But the Prime Minister went further than that. In denying the menace of socialism under Labour, he gave definite promises that his party would not endeavour to socialise the farms; that it would not establish State control of industry; that it would not take over the stock and station agents or the banks, as long as they gave efficient service; that there would be no interference with the rights of the small shopkeeper and business man; that there would be no confiscation nor destruction of the right of inheritance. He invited private enterprise to cooperate with the Government. "It is not our object," he said, "to move a muscle that will injure anyone." Mr. Savage's assurances have obviously been accepted by the bulk of the electorate and therefore, as! far as the realisation of Labour's objective is concerned, the people have given the Government only a qualified mandate. It is well that this should be realised.