REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19584, 14 September 1925, Page 10

REVOLUTIONARY SOCIALISM.

CHALLENGE TO A DEBATE. In continnatioo of the eoewopondenco arising out of hi* challenge to on® of the Labour leaders to a public debate on the subject of Socialism, Mr Harry Atmore, M.P.» wrote on September 10 to Mr »V. Nash, national secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party:— Dear Mr Nash, — I am in receipt of your not© of 29th August ultimo, in which, for reasons 1 well understand from a study of the ilevolutionary-Socialists’ methods or tactics, you knowingly and wilfnliy misrepresented my challenge. . My challenge was, and is, as stated m the Southland News, to “debate the subject of Socialism as revealed in many of the public statements of loaders and prominent members of the Socialist Party . together with extracts from the New Zealand Worker, the official journal of that party, and other Socialist papers. When I gave that challenge at Invercargill, it was after I hod given a list of the statements from Revolutionary-Socialists and the extracts from their journals, as Quoted. These statements, etc., which form the items for the debate, have since been reproduced in newspapers which have published my reply to a letter from Mr Hickey, who, like you and Mr Fraser, whom you name as being willing to debate on ' behalf of your party, sought, as you' now seek, to evade the _ dangerous issues raised by mo by substituting the bare words of a platform. . ■My reply given to Mr Hickey is applicable to your letter. In the course of that reply I stated “that the conclusion made manifest to any intelligent reader is that you are unable to deny or defend the charges and extraordinary statement of views and opinions set forth by me subject matter for the proposed debate. _ The natural Reduction to bo made is that you have found that it would bo extremely difficult to convince any audience that you have a sound defence for the monstrous statements of views and doctrines which I quoted against the Socialists, and on which I challenged them to debate. The discussion of an abstract platform, while suppressing the_ published views of its adherents or adopting a ‘ keep-it-darlc ' policy in regard to their real opinions and methods would be a senseless proceeding. , The real views expressed and the political doctrines supported by, as well as the political actions of, those leaders who were instrumental in “framing-up” the platform, are matters of fundamental importance for public guidance and public judgment before the people are asked to accept such a platform. , To accept a platform without a previous examination or inquiry on the lines I have suggested would be as foolish as for one to buy a book on account of its cover. What weight would you ( attach to. or what reliance would you place upon the honouring of Mr Hickey’s political promises or arguments in regard to planks in a .-platform when we have before us Mr Hickey’s outrageous declaration, io neu with agreements t” , a debat© on tn© lines which T suzzeet would reveal not only some extraordinary views ol those who are behind the platform, hut many others, such as the following:— I told the miners; If they (the police) hit you with a baton, hit them with a pick handle, and hare the pick at the . end of it.—(Tide Evening Post, April 21, 391 t Mr Holland at Basin Reserve. ' ■Contrast this with Mr Holland’s opposing dictum, that the methods of the Labour platform are constitutional, orderly, and peaceful. The question may be asked here: Has expediency driven him. into making the latter statement, , r Gan. you reconcile these two views, Mr Wash, or must one choose between tho plckhandle and the formal platform as the convincing agent to be used? Here is another statement which win make amazing reading: — The programme laid down here is revolutionary and socialistic, and justified ;by Marx. Labour is going to pass through the most critical period in the history, of the world. The war period ; will be no circumstance in comparison. ' ■ <?, (Remarks by Mr Holland. Quoted by %r R. Green, Hansard, Commonwealth . Parliament, 1025.) ■H«q are other statements which make it also 1 difficult for people to reconcile two sets',.of "views: .Speaking at Nelson recently Mr Peter Fraser, M.P., denied that “his Socialist stood for the break-up of the British Empire.” Compare this with the extract from the Official journal of his party, the Maoriland

[Worker: — If Ireland succeeds in achieving her ' independence It means the break-up of the British Empire. That will be a blessing to the world and an inspiration to the cause of Labour who are opposed to Empire root and branch. Mr Fraser declared “that the Labour movement in New Zealand is part and parcel of the same movement” when referring to the “Russian revolutionary movement.” and again: “If the Russian revolution went down in a sea of blood it would be more then Justified.” 1 Cah you reconcile these views, Mr Nash, With the “orderly methods of the Labour platform ?” May X say, In conclusion, that your platform would be more likely to carry weight * With the public if you had shown your Willingness to accept my challenge and to stand or fall by the political views and methods which I have set forth in my .speeches and letters for you or your leaders to defend. What is wanted In this country and throughout the world is that the nation shall come before the class, and that every class should feel that it is justified only by Its absolutely unselfish maintenance of the welfare of the whole community. It is because of the alarm created by the wild and dangerous dogmas, impractical theories, and unsound political methods advocated by Revolutionary-Socialists, so subversive of New Zealand democratic sentiment and our social evolution, that all right-thinking, practical-minded 9 loyal people are desirous of having established in this country a strong stable National Government, which will safeguard this nation from the dangers and perils of malign influences and revolutionary forces working -against the best interests of the people.—Tours, truly, (Signed) Habbt Atjioee.