THE INCENTIVE TO WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25870, 14 June 1945, Page 9

THE INCENTIVE TO WORK

Sir, —” Lover of Freedom ” thinks human nature is not good enough for Socialism, and that dreadful penalties would have to be threatened and enforced to compel people to work when the hope of wealth and the dread of poverty were alike withdrawn. But there are policemen and gaols everywhere to prove that our present regime is not maintained without the display and exercise of considerable force. And it is quite unlikely that Socialism would cause any increase in crime, because if workers were in direct control of Industry they would no doubt make the conditions of labour more tolerable, so that there would be less temptation to resort to swindling or housebreaking. The idea that Socialism is a theory is being voiced very loudly at present. But it was once considered a theory, and a most pernicious doctrine, that, the earth was a ball moving round the sun, for enunciating which great men suffered as cruel penalties as Socialists and Communists under Hitler.—l am, etc., H. Gow. Balclutha, June 12.