SOCIALISM IN NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 30

SOCIALISM IN NEW ZEALAND.

' THE DDEALS OF THE SECRETARY ; OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. We take from the Beacon the following copy of what it describes, no doubt rightly, as a highly interesting letter written by Mr Tregear, secretary of tho Department ■ of Labour, in acknowledgment of the> receipt of a recent book: — " Dear Mr Benson, — I hope you will pardon nae for not afc once acknowledging rhe receipt of your book. Believe me, I feel deeply grateful to you. If I did nob reply at once it was because I wanted toruminate over your arguments. lam one of those so fully convinced of the truth, of what you say that I sometimes feel we Socialists are the only sane people in a world of lunatics. Of course ih© woriil _ retorts that it is we who are mad: that is the way things go in 'mental hospitals." Nevertheless, there i 3 great hope for us. Our ranks, are being augmented ©very day in -a most astonishing 'way. I see in my own lifetime- tlie advent of social rights coming up like a thunderstorm against the wind. Here ■in New Zealand we keep pegging away, sapping little by little the foundations of one -monstrous privilege after another. We got arbitration upon its sturdy legs, and I know you have followed its" carpor with interested eyes. Now we have again a crusade against the landlords in cities and suburbs, because every advantage in wages, etc... gained for tho workers by arbitration is being exploited and ncutra'ued by robber rents. We ara taking voluntarily, by sale, or compulsorily, lands near towns for workmen's homes, to enable the holder to erect houses, etc.. thereon, secured, of course, on the land and improvenipnts themselves. The result is. no country is prospering in the world at the present time like New Zealand.- • Eet no man think, however, that our prosperity leavos i:s without evils to combat. We have barely touched the fringe of the soiled economic" garment. So long as the wage system endures, 6o long: as capital holds the land, machinery, and other moans of production co long is tho bulk of our population only a collection? of well-fed, well -clothed slaves. I am glad to see in your book you have driven your shafts right at the heart of tho matter. "Tho only question is this: — In a world consisting of men trained in the wolf 'ie 3 of the capitalist system, is it best to accept nothing, to iet the evils ' stew irt their own t*ravy? ' Or shall we slowly feel our way — by national railways, telegraphs, insurance, steamers, unions, etc.. — as we are doing- in New Zealand, and gradually educate thos n who differ through their prejudice?, by conviction? This is ovolution. B':t you understand that, in doing so, we a!so build our own difficulties as wo go We have made our factories clean and pleasant places to work in, looked after the wages, the hours, and the overtime pay, the holidays, the health of the women and children. Result — Carelessness as to the real problems ; fatuous, contented acquiescence in things as they are. The wago-carner satisfied with his position and ready to consider Tregear fuming over economic matters of little importance. Only when I show them how they are being robbed does the ' pleasant afternoon ' feeling give way sufficiently take them to' the bal!ot-box. ' When,' when, when will the great American ' (we may add Australian) people learn that the Republican (Conservative) is nothing, the Democrat (Liberal) nofchinsr, and that th^ro is only one real is3ue — viz., that between the lobbor and his victim? Moreover, that the ballot-box is the only social weapon ! Longlife and health to you. May you strike many a gianl blow for the gre:tt cause.-— Your^ 1 alvrav*. " Edw.mid Tregear. " Secretary Department of Labour."