“SOCIALISM BY STEALTH”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25214, 1 May 1943, Page 2

“SOCIALISM BY STEALTH”

TREND IN AUSTRALIA CHARGES AGAINST MINISTERS (Air Mail) SYDNEY, -Apl. 21. Fear that the Australian Government is introducing Socialism by stealth under the guise of an all-out war effort was voiced by the president of the Employers’ Federation, Mr O. D. A. Oberg. Similar charges, were made by the Leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr A. Fadden. They based their accusations on public statements by important Labour Ministers.

Mr Oberg recalled that on March 29, ihe Minister for War Organisation, Mr J. J. Dedman, said in an address to the Melbourne University Labour Club: “I am a Socialist, and the whole of my experience as head of the Department of War Organisation of Industry has been to get nearer to the socialisation of industry.” Mr Oberg rarther quoted Mr. Dedman. “On April 1 Mr Dedman said in a press interview that he saw no reason to deny that he was a Socialist,” said Mr Oberg. “ Nor would he deny that some industries which he had reorganised followed closely along Socialistic lines. Bank Branches Closed

“What Mr Dedman playfully calls the rationalisation of the industry has been introduced in the case of banking, which affects the savings of the whole community. He called upon trading banks to close what he regarded as superfluous branches. Altogether, about 500 bank branches have been closed throughout the Commonwealth under his rationalisation scheme. But Mr Dedman carefully exempted the Commonwealth Bank—a Government bank—from this closing of branches. It is patent proof that rationalisation is moving perilously close to nationalisation. “ Bread, ice, and milk deliveries have been zoned by orders from the Department of War Organisation of Industry.” added Mr Oberg. “ The zone system is a distinct step towards socialisation. Even funerals have been rationalised. Mr Dedman, or his officers, have prescribed the number of mourning coaches to a funeral, and how far those cars may convey the mourners on the return journey.” War as Excuse Mr Fadden said in a radio talk that the Federal Government was using war-time conditions to “ graft socialistic ideals on Australians.” He quoted the Minister for Labour, Mr E. u. Ward, as having declared at the Melbourne Trades Hall on March 20 that “there is no substitute for socialisation ” Mr Ward also said: “Itis no good fooling the pepoie; we must tell them bluntly that under capitalism wars are inevitable, and only under socialisatipn can we get real peace instead of another uneasy armistice of the 1918 pattern.” Mr Fadden said that another member of the Curtin Governmet, the Minister for Aircraft Production. Senator A. Cameron, had, on March 16, stated: “We have socialised production; now we desire to socialise distribution.” Summing up these utterances. Mr Fadden said that the way is open for post-war industrial conscription. “ Family life is broken up,” he said, “ and the seeds are sown for socialisation. We dare not, through preoccupation with the war, ignore the challenge of socialisation to our post-war freedom of life. If Labour remains in power it will continue to implement a vast and permanent programme of Government spending to provide Government employment, and to supply purchasing power for Government-pro-duced commodities.”