WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19205, 23 June 1924, Page 10

WORKERS' EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION.

SOUTH END CLASS. “The Place and Function of the State in Community’’ were studied by the Soutfi End Class at its meeting ou Wednesday evening. A State may be described us the fundamental association for tne maintenance and development of the social order, and to this end its central institution 19 endowed with the united power of the community. It his its organisations of electorate, government, and officials like ether associations, but it claims pre-eminence over these on account of the importance of the interests which it serves. More and more, however, it is being recognised that not force, but common will is the basis of the State. The conformity of the great majority of the members of the State does not, and cannot depend on enforcement, or the threat of enforcement, but on acceptance of the purpose of the State, on loyalty, on the habit of obedience, and on the fear of social disapprobation. But a Slate has certain characters which other associations have not. It has a universality. It has territorial boundaries such that all who live within them arc protected bv and subject to its laws. It alone is invested with the coercive power of the community, except in so far as it delegates it to other groups by laws. This would seem to imply that the State stands for a necessary and universal system of order, without which society would fall apart, and so can rightly use force. But will is really the greater power; for some associations—-e.g., of an economic order—as the trust—may possess power against which the State may beat in vain. Thus the State’s unique functions are first and mainly concerned with justice. One of the most essentia! attributes of justice is equality of opportunity for all which, if admitted, gives the State a very important economic function. The control of international relationships are often performed bv the State alone, though not always with nnv great credit to the State concerned. Wide-reaching and animated discussions by members were a feature of the meeting.