INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17504, 21 December 1918, Page 12

INDUSTRIAL WORLD.

NEWS AND NOTES.

Bi THE HON. J. T. Paul, M.L.C.

GERMAN SOCIAXJSM.

The full story of the part played by German Social Democrats in the war is yet to .be told. Tho support which they gave to ithe German war lords was a surprise to many, and tho surpriso was tho greater because of the party's previous aititudo towards, militarism and war. Certainly in the hours preceding the declaration of war tho Socialists did all thoy could to avert tho catastrophe. Evidently they (or the majority of the party) realised that once the die was cast they had to obey tho stronger power of militarism. For instance, on 1, 1914, the oiucial organ of tho party admonished " all comrades to lie low; they must cherish their old convictions in 'their breasts, but thoy must also tako care how they givo utterance to those convictions in speech." An illuminating book, entitled "German Social Democracy During the War" has just been published. For a long review in the New Statesmen I judge it to bo valuable, though written by an observer afar off. The concluding paragraph of tho review is worthy of quotation:— ''The causo of the failure of Gorman Social Democracy to Eve up to its programme and to stand by its principles when tho" testing time came was that, as a whole, it no longer believed in its fundamental ideas of revolution and internationalism. It had built up a great organisation, which 'was permitted by tho authorities to live and grow so long as it was not used for any; purpose which would seriously endanger the; solid structure of the 'German State. The party became more concerned with maintaining its organisation than with upholding its principles. Hence when Liebknecht, beforo the war, pointed out that tho first step towards freeing Germany was to ovorthrow tho military system, the party leaders refused to sanction an anti-militarist agitation, through fear that tho Government would revive the Anti-Socialist law and; smash the party. It was a common remark among German Socialists that the party _ had struck on a ' dead centre.' Iveir Hardie expressed tho same idea in other words when ho said that the party 'had' lost .its soul in preserving its organisation.' Furthermore, it is doubtful whether tho party really had faith in tho political idea proclaimed in its title. Ludwig Frank, a few months before ho fell at Luneville, said privately that ho had come to believe that the people of Germany had little care of or understanding of democracy. In any case, the German view of democracy and pacifism is vastly different from that of tie British Labour Party, who, for instance, maintain that compulsory military service is incompatible with a democratic form of society. .To day, while loudly insisting on their pacifist opinions, tho German Social Democrats still advocate universal service in a national army, regardless of the fact that the war has taught the rest the world tho danger which lies in Das Volk Waffen.'"

A liberal translation of tho last three words is "the arming of the whole people." In view of the struggle, now going on tho view of tho reviewer is interesting.

AN APPRECIATION,

_ "J.R.H." writes under the above heading, as follows: —

"I wonder if your column, "Industrial World, is as widely read as it should be. Personally speaking, as one keenly interested m democratic progress, I find it educative, instructive, and interesting. As an exth® Labour news and notes in the Times of Saturday, November 30, and let any man or woman study it seriously. He ror she will gain a valuable lot of information. For instance, take the problem of co-operation referred to in your last notes. What tremendous strides it has made since its inauguration. The figures are compelling and open up the question why. can t the_ matter bo tackled in Duneclin? Would it net help to kill profiteering and exploitation, and enable workers to get commodities at a reasonable price 'Aguin another paragraph dealing with the subject of a new charter for British workers. What a big forward move—and the Master of ■Balliol an active member! Just imagine years ago conservative and culturcd Oxford a n hem of democracy's garment. All;things are changing, and about time I wonder, too, if Senator M'Kellar's speech as given m your column, caught tho eye of the profiteering folk and other cold-blooded calculators who use every opportunity to exploit the common people. It was grand, but alas, too true. "What Labour has done and. is doing could not be put in more piquant and searching language.'*

LABOUR IN AUSTRALIA. rhere are reliable signs that Labour-in-politics in Australia is again on the up grade. Owing to the division of forces on the; conscription question Labour suffered a temporary eclipse in several States. Certainly Queensland retained its Labour Government and has profited by its legislation ihe recent by-elections in New South Wales, for instance, shows a distinct growth of i public opinion in favour of Labour, in ./the by-election for the Monaro seat the majority was 1678. . Speaking on this victory Mr John Storey (Leader of the Lacjour Party) said: — . is a great victory, and taken in conjunction with the recent very substantial diminution in the National majority in the Upper Hunter was ' the writing on the wall for the National Party. The Premier made a desperate attempt in this contest to buttress up his dying cause, and he was assisted by practically the whole of his Ministers, but with the result that the Labour candidate obtained an even larger majority than Mr Miller, who was always abl? to' count upon a substantial personal following, independent of party. rrho National speakers took advantage of tho sigrling of the armistice to misrepresent Labour's part in the war, and its policy gone Italy, but the. poll showed that the people refused to bo misled, The Monaro electorate was devoted largely to farming and. grazing, and contained comparatively few who were ordifiarily described as unionistic and working class. The result, therefore, was all the. more gratifying and: was the best evidence that the people of ;the State as a whole endorsed the Labour Party's progressive and democratic policy."

SbME VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS. The recent epidemic has awakened public opinion in tho northern centres to the necessity for . doing something courageous n?, r ' improvement of city' conditions. Ihe, following suggestions have been put forward by Labour representatives on civic improvement for Auckland:—

(1) Fix a minimum wage sufficiently high to a,llow the average family to live in comfort'and retain their self-respect. (2): Abolish the present system of rating and in its place a system of rating on unimproved value, thus removing penalties J- from those who erect and own decent property, and inducing thoso who aro holding land .for speculation purposes to make that land available for tho ereefcion of homes.

(3) Encourage tho five day working week so that householders will havo time during weekends to clean up their allotments and engage in healthy recreation or occupations, such as gardening. . (+) Improve and cheapen transport facili tics so that, workers will bo the better able to live in the suburbs.

(5) Erect dwellings in city and suburbs of at least four rooms, with scullery, bathroom, lavatory, washhouse,and hot and cold water service, and gas or electricity for light, heat, and power. (61 Fix rents so that the occupier is not called upon to pay more than one day's wages a week in rent.

(7) Licenso all _ board inghonse and renter] houses, and forbid letting until the requirements of .the by-laws with respect to accommodation. sanitation, etc., are fulfilled. (8) Prohibit tlio sale of liquor as an intoxicant, provide frco of charge healthy amusements, elevating, and instructive entertainments for the people. ($) Erect new schools where necessary, Always providing that they are built in healthy surroundings and have ample playing grounds for tho children. (10) Encotn-iige tho work of the Workers' Educational Association in all directions by grants of money from publio funds, and cspeciallv'/assistance should lie given to enable fJia association to provide tutors far classcs of -women in hygiene, nursing, and caro of children and the homo, and cooking.

(11) Enccmrago the work of St. .Tohn Ambulance; provide money to ennblo it to give instructions to all who desire such, and by giving publicity to matters of hygiene Mid health, inoulcat-e a desiro to seek instruction in these matters.

(12) Nationalise the medical and nursing services so that all in need of such can receive attention, and whilst, disconraging as as possible the use of drugs, establish dispensaries for the preparation and distribution of medicines at cost price.