SOCIALISM AND DOUGLASISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22114, 18 November 1933, Page 9

SOCIALISM AND DOUGLASISM

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —As a Socialist I positively refute the statement by Miss King, as reported in your columns to-day, that “the objective of Socialism was very similar to that of the Douglas movement.” Douglaeism aims at the upholding and perpetuation of the capitalist system by means of currency reforms. Socialism aims at “ the establishment of a system of society based on the common ownership and democratic control of the means and instruments for producing and distributing wealth by and in the interest of the whole community.” That, in the final analysis, is the overthrow of capitalism. Therefore, Socialism is diametrically opposed \to Douglasism. Miss King is either deplorably ignorant of the first tenets of Socialism or has deliberately juggled those tenets for the purpose either of “padding” her lecture or of misleading her auditors.

Major Douglas in “A Social Credit Scheme for Scotland” proposes a “ national dividend " scheme, and says:— ". . . failure on the part of any individual to accept employment in whatever trade, business, or vocation he was classified in the last census . . . would render such individual liable to suspension of benefit in respect of the national dividend.” Further, “Wage rates in all organised industries to be reduced by 25 per cent.” _ Is this individual freedom? Under Socialism, where every person’s wants will be satisfied, selfishness will disappear, and man will give to man that which is his instinct, and, indeed, his duty—service. He may do it in whatever way he wishes, and that is freedom. “ The implement to be used by Socialism to effect distribution (of wealth) was money,” says Miss King. That statement I contradict and strenuously deny. That superabundance of real wealth which the Douglasites admit is in existence would be free to all under Socialism because it belongs to all, and money would serve no purpose in the system. Again, Miss King appears.to be under a misapprehension in regard to Marx’s use of the term “ workers,” and raises a point about that and “community.” In Marxian Socialism there is no class other than workers, and it is futile for Miss King to equivocate over a word in the works of a man who meticulously forbore from any ambiguity' in word or phrase. —I am, etc., R. Halsey Smith. St. Clair, November 17.