THE GOVERNMENT AND SOCIALISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23511, 27 May 1938, Page 15

THE GOVERNMENT AND SOCIALISM

I'O THE t, 1)110 H Sir,—With all due respect to so humble a person as “Humility,” I am obliged to say ho is, like many others not as humble as ho believes himself to be and. like all good Nationalists, is unabashed and unashamed in the determination to nail a Socialistic plank of his own making upon the Labour Party’s platform—complete State ownership. socialisation of everything, property, business, etc. We don't believe it! The Tones do not believe it themselves, but in the form they put it over it constitutes more excellent propaganda for their party and, as they think, places nails galore in the Labour Government s coffin. “ Humility ” is, at present, straining at a gnat when in the past he has swallowed whole camels — hump, hoof and all. One instance, did not past Governments confiscate lands —i.e„ take possession of the country in the name of the King and then barter it away as Crown lands —barter on their own terms?

Mr Nash said in his recent speech, “ There had not been contemplated oi discussed at any time any proposal to interfere with the freehold title of any farmer.” The perfectly harmless and microscopic amount of socialisation enacted by the present Government is symbolically a mere gnat. Instead of bedimming still further the vision of “ Humility ” with “ dust,” I fain would open his eyes to see. as Elisha and his servant.

What a bogey, then, the capitalists make of the word “ Socialist ” and what a distorted monstrosity and ghost of its former self they make of the term “socialisation,” and so on! When the Labour Government rose superior to its predecessors and formulated and put into operation a guaranteed price plan, in a commendable effort to help the dairy farmer, “ Humility ” and his confederates called it “ seizure of the dairy produce,” and yet comes to light at long last with a real “ thriller ” —a compensated price plan. How alluring, fascinating and attractive in the extreme if I may indulge in a little mild sarcasm! The irony of it is, of course, that this Easter egg was not hatched a few years earlier when it would have afforded the farmer some help in the depths of depression. Presumably Mr Hamilton will seize the public funds to keep this child of Reform afloat, if they eventually succeed in nailing the present Government into its coffin. Finally, “ Humility ” is much astray and most unfair in his reference to old men and women being forced to pay towards the upkeep of able-bodied men, etc. Mr Savage and Co. have done more for old people, etc., than all past politicians put together, excepting Mr Richard John Seddon.—l am. etc., Oamaru. Lofty.