COMMUNISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 9

COMMUNISM

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —“ Onlooker ” gives as our slogan, “Every man for himself and the devil take the hindermost." This is very kind of him. but it does not happen to be correct. He gives the Communist objective as “ The greatest good for the greatest number.” This is also the aim of many other policies and it is because we do not believe that Communism would produce that result that we oppose it. We have never criticised the action of Soviet authorities in their own country. That is the business of the Russian people, but we do protest against the Soviet agents and sympathisers “butting in” to our domestic affairs to encourage disloyalty to our flag and Empire, Communism is not practised in Russia. It was tried and failed as it has always

failed when it has been attempted during the last 2000 years. Human nature defeats such a Utopian ideal. Stalin’s declaration that “ payment must be measured by the work accomplished and not by the recipient’s needs” is not Communism. His opinion that the effect of equality in wages between the skilled and unskilled is wrong because the unskilled workman has no interest in making himself skilled—and no incentive to improve himself —is certainly a sound opinion, but is not “ Communism.”

What troubles us and many loyal citizens is the fact that as soon as a man begins flirting with Communism he becomes disloyal to the flag and country in which he lives. Thus our local Communists prove themselves (as Mr Bennett pointed out) to be disloyalists to their country, rather than working for an ideal for the general good. What is happening in Russia is no arg'ji'ient in favour of Communism; it is Slate capitalism, it is on its trial, and it has not yet proved its success. When it does prove all that is expected of it, it will be time enough to follow its lead.— We are, etc., N.Z. Welfare League. August 4.