EXTENSION OF CONTROLS

Southland Times, Issue 25652, 20 April 1945, Page 6

EXTENSION OF CONTROLS

Sir, —May I disclaim any of the fondness “Digger” seems to think I have for the so-called socialist Cabinet Ministers. My reason for saying this is that I do not think the present Cabinet has the least conception of what socialism means. It is they who, by their ignorance and their clumsy attempts to establish socialism, discredit it. Unknowingly perhaps, they are enemies of socialism as much as any other opposing party. No, lam afraid I cannot accept “Digger’s” definition of capitalism because it omits the one vital issue at. stake—namely, exploitation. I think Marx very clearly defines capitalism as exploitation, which is the technical term given to the capture of the surplus profits over and above the subsistence wage paid to the workers. Marx saw that the evils of exploitation would remain until the means of largescale production were wrested from private hands and planned by common ownership for common consumption. Again, Marx saw the wresting would be resisted by every means and weapon available. History, Facism and Nazism stand as testimony. Between 1933-1939 the standard of the worker in Germany had fallen by 40 per cent, whilst the millionaires had increased by 1200 and the multi-millionaires by 80. This is on record and bears out my contention that Nazism is capitalism, and that capitalism will use any method, no matter how foul and brutal, to hold its place. Capitalism reached its logical conclusion in Germany and Italy, and showed its ruthlessness, by its dragoonery of the workers, its smashing of unions, its conquest of defenceless nations, silencing of every protest by torture and the concentration camp, and finally by plunging the whole world into totalitarian war. For “Digger’s” benefit, may I quote the economist Keynes, who is now I think Lord Keynes. He says: “Capitalism is wholly immoral, a mere congeries of pursuers and possessors.” NOT ASLEEP.