MR FRASER AND SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENT BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25302, 12 August 1943, Page 7

MR FRASER AND SOLDIERS’ SETTLEMENT BILL

Sir,—Many people will agree with the attitude you adopted in your timely leader On this subject on August 9. In it you said that there could be no ground for thinking that Mr Fraser would ever be guilty of deliberately breaking his promise not to use war conditions as a cloak for further implementing Socialism in New Zealand. But the answer to the question. “ Would this Bill have been designed differently. if the designer had had the deliberate iritention of advancing the cause of Socialism in New Zealand by using the war as a cloak? ” Undoubtedly the answer is " No.” How is this apparent contradiction solved? The Labour Government, being Socialist, has only one method,of social reform —namely, the introduction of further authoritarian forms of government. This being its one idea or method of reform, or indeed of good government, it is impossible for it to conceive any kind of a solution to a social problem other than one which further implements Socialism. No matter how good its intentions may be, to devise any other method of reform is beyond its understanding or capacity. But the practical effect of such legislation will be equally disastrous whether it were inspired by unthinkable promise-breaking by Mr Fraser or, as is the case, its form is determined by the sheer incapacity of the Government to conceive any other method of social reform.—l am, etc., Southern Cross.