PLAYING WITH FIRE

Southland Times, Issue 18936, 24 September 1920, Page 6

PLAYING WITH FIRE

A TALK WITH THE WORKERS OF NEW ZEALAND. (Contributed by the N.7<. Wedfare League.) You will recognise that we arc right in saying that the leaders of the present New Zealand Labour Party arc constantly pointing to Soviet Russia as an example for the workers of this country to follow. It is a fair question to ask “whether that guidance is good or bad.” Let us examine the matter without heat, and as far as possible without bias. Whether you are a Socialist or an ordinary Trade Unionist or a Labourite of any particular persuasion we ask you as a human being to consider this question. To commence with it has to be recognised that Soviet Russia like the late German Empire aims at world-wide domination in the sense of seeking to have all countries adopt its system. President Lenin has announced “no matter how great our difficulties, we have great hope for victory, not only in Russia, but throughout the world.” Now what is the system that these Russian Communists wish to impose on the rest of mankind? It is not parliamentary or any general form of representative government. To mske way for Soviet rule, the constituent Assembly of Representatives was first abolishe<i. It Ls then representative government by the workers in the various industries. On the surface it is made to appear so and is in consequence called a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” An examination of the system shows (hat (ho Soviet Councils are elected by three sets of voters, namely, 1. Workers in the industries. 2. Public servants. 2. Soldiers and sailors. YTiilst individuals in any of these three classes have the right of voting (he power qf ruling is exercised by commissionaires who govern with .almost absolute authority. It is true that at first there were works committees and councils that directed the industrial affairs, but these were abolished and the absolute personal authority of a single commissionaire substituted. Lenin's language on this head is very plain, he says:—“ Socialism demands the absolute submission of the masses to the single will of those, who direct the labour process,” and again, he says;—“ But how can we secure strict unity of will? By subjecting the will of thousands to the will of one.” From thus it is very clear that, the Bolshevik system in practice is not self government by the workers, but a “dictatorship of the commissionaires” to whose will the mass arc entirely subject. CALUMNY AND TRUTH. But it may he said “has not Russia of to-day been grossly misrepresented?” We say “Yes, it has.” liven' country is falsely spoken of at times. The British Empire is lied about as much as any. It is for that reason that we are taking evidence of labour men and Socialists on this question. Here is some of the evidence.

Mr Tom Shaw, M.P. (Labour delegate to Russia) “I have seen the workers eating their meals and when I (ell you that the half of a raw herring, with boiled bird seed, and a dash of what is called kasha, without -milk and without sugar, is the best meal the industrial workers of Moscow and Pelrograd get. you will form some idea of the terrible state of affairs there. These cities me profoundly sail. No amount of banners, music, idealism could rid my mind of the idea that these people wore slowly starving and suffering all the time. ’ Mrs Snowden (Labour delegate) reported that “we have, nothing to learn or gain from Bolshevism.” Mr Ben Turner (chairman Labour delegation to Russia! reported “The hunger in the towns is in strange contrast j with the seeming prosperity in the villages. ! Every land worker Inis his own plot and I produces lus own food. 'lhe surplus he is supposed to sell at controlled prices in the | towns." He tells- that there exists an “Extraordinary - Commission'’ which is “above the ordinary law" and which tries reputed enemies of the Republic. Prince Kropotkin (now in Russia, and a Com. munist by conviction) writes (hat “ the attempt at introducing the new society by means of the dictatorship of one party is apparently doomed In he a failure.” Again “A Labour Council reuses to be a free and valuable adviser when there is no free press in the country, and we have been in this position for nearly two years.” “The evils naturally inherent in party dictatorship have been increased by the war conditions under which this party maintained itself.”

The natural evils of State Communism are thus increased tenfold under the excuse that “all misfoit lines of our life are due to the intervention of foreigners.” Of course the usual excuse is that a dictatorial rule was unavoidable as a means of combating the old regime. dhat such a rule evidently becomes a formidable drawback as soon as the Revolution proceeds towards the building up of a tiew Society on a new economic btusis; it becomes a death sentence of (lie new construction.” THK SUMMING UR AND LESSON LOR

Vou. workers of New Zealand, are not dullards. You have had some advantages of education. ThL evidence you will recognise proves strongly : 1. Thai Soviet Russia, specially the industrial centres, is in dire want. 2. That its government is a dictatorship, not a democracy. 3. That its workers in the mass are subject to forced conditions of labour and absolute dictatorial control. 4. That freedom of the press docs not exist and personal freedom is restricted. a. That military’ control holds great sway over the people. That, in comparison with New Zealand, it offers less personal freedom, greater subjection to absolute dictation, much less material well being and great liability to the slavery of warfare.

In the face of these facts we urge that, you will repudiate the misleaders of Labour within our Dominion who arc seeking by appeals to passion to incite you to follow an example that the best informed Labourites of (he world are hesitating to copy. Remember that no revolution is justified which cannot present something better in substitution for what it has to replace. We seek not to judge Russia, with its long experience of sorrowful tragedies, bin urge most strongly that the personal freedom we now enjoy is too great a sacrifice to be placed upon the altar of the most impossible ideals. To destroy is easier than to build, and the toving with Soviet Rule is out playing with fire which we may fight up and not be able to extinguish.