QUESTIONS RE SOCIALISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7076, 14 March 1910, Page 12

QUESTIONS RE SOCIALISM.

(To the Editor "N.Z. Time*.**) Sir, —Will your correspondent "The Clarion Scout" kindly give straight answers to the following straight questions, seriatim?: — , 1. Which do the Socialists intend to accomplish firet-fthe nationalisation, cf land or the nationalisation of industries? 2. By what means do they propose to nationalise the land? 3. Where do they propose to obtain the money to purchase the industries ot‘ New Zealand, and how many years, approximately, will it take to socialise all the industries? 4. Can your correspondent name a Socialist colony that is a success? 5. Have not Socialist colonies, which havo been inaugurated in different parts of the world proved dismal failures, owing to' squabbles about religion, nature of employment allotted to ■ comrades, etc., or for other reasons? C. Under Socialism would money bo used; as a medium of exchange? 7. Would not Socialism make us- all State machines, depriving us of liberty to earn our livelihood in any lawful way desired? 8. If ’we did not like the work allotted us under Socialism and demanded a. change of occupation, as many would,, what would happen? 9. Does not the community-created, value of land, now confiscated by landholders, represent the surplus earnings of labour, and if this were ’appropriated, by the State for public uses and customs duties alx>fisued, would not the wage-earners be receiving the full reward of their labour, less a fair return to capital? 10. Is not capital an assistant to Labour ? 11. Why is it that Socialists, who are so numerous in older countries, have - not yet succeeded in capturing the parliamentary machine? 12. Could not the New Zealand Socialists induce tens of thousands of their comrades in other parts of the world to come and settle here, seize tn© reins of government, and socialise everything and everybody, thus providing an object-lesson. for the world? As this is a young and sparsely populated country it should be an excellent strategic ground for the Socialists, and it should be l possible for them to carry out this practicable scheme. —I am, etc., PBOGEESS, March 11. [Gently brother, gently,—Bd. "N.Z.T."}