FREEDOM OR REGIMENTATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27295, 23 January 1950, Page 5

FREEDOM OR REGIMENTATION

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Churchill Speaks To

Electors

WORLD AWAITS DECISION

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright

j Rec. 10.20 p.m. LONDON, Jan. 21. Mr Churchill, making the Conservative Party’s 1 first election broadcast from his home at Wester- : ham, Kent, tonight said: “All the world is wonder- ; ing what is going to happen here at this election, t In every country —friend, ally, foe, victor, rescued, : or vanquished—inquiring or anxious minds are turned to Britain. What is she going to do? That is the question on every lip. For what it is worth, t this is a compliment. | “We need not shrink from all this attention. At this moment everyone ought to consider very carefully what is his duty toward his country, toward the causes he believes in, toward his home and family, and to his own personal rights and responsibilities. “ What, then, is the supreme and fundamental question which we have to answer and have to answer now? As I see it, the choice before us is whether we should take another plunge into Socialist regimentation or make a strong effort to regain the freedom, initiative and opportunity of British life.”

“ I believe that on this decision depends not only our future as a leading nation in world thought and progress, but also ouj physical ability to maintain our vast population upon decent standards without foreign charity. Let us. therefore, examine the matter. Socialism is based on the idea of the all-powerful State which owns everything, which plans everything, which distributes everything, and thus decides the daily life of the individual through its politicians and officials. We have not, of course, got this or anything like it in Britain at the present time. The process of establishing a Socialist State has only just begun. “The practical question we have to settle now is whether we shall take another deep plunge into State ownership and State control, or whether we shall restore a greater measure of freedom of choice and action to our people and of productive fertility and variety to our industry. “ Before deciding upon this, it is well to look around. Excepting Scandinavia, Socialism and the Socialist parties are on the decline throughout Europe in all countries outside the iron curtain. In taking another lurch into Socialism at this juncture, we should be moving contrary to the general trend and tide of revising European society. Still more should we be out of harmony with the States and nations of the English-speaking world, the British dominions and the United States. Mr Attlee, at this moment, is head of the only Socialist Government to be found anywhere in the whole English-speak-

ing world, the birthplace and home of Parliamentary democracy. • “New Zealand and Australia, which have given a prolonged trial to a Socialist Government, not, of course, to Socialism in its complete form, have recently shaken themselves free. A young nation like Australia, dwelling in a continent and growing ample food 'for itself and for export, may try experiments in Socialism without risk of fatal injury, but 50,000,000 gathered together in this small island are in a very different position.”