SOCIALIST OCTOPUS

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 6

SOCIALIST OCTOPUS

Fate of Small Traders And Farmers Labour politicians and philosophers are always eloquent about the rights of small nations and of the “common man”—but when it comes to practical politics they sing a different tune. They try to make all their actions and legislative measures count towards the attainment of their ultimate goal—the complete Socialist State. What will happen to the small trader, the small manufacturer, the small farmer, when the octopus of State Ownership reaches out to absorb his enterprise? The present Government has shown its hand so plainly that no intelligent person can doubt what its real policy is. It wants to “take over” one enterprise after another —in the “public interest,” of course —until its gets a stranglehold on the supply of money, goods, and services. It wants to see everybody in thrall, to the largest possible degree, to some State Department or another. And what about “public interest” then? Does State ownership—or State interference—lead to efficiency in service to the people? It does not. What about coal? What about electricity? Since the State interfered with real estate transactions, the sale of a house or other property takes three months or more instead of three weeks—and twice as many people are concerned in the transaction! That’s typical. The foundation of a healthy, vigorous democracy is the encouragement of individual initiative and of the spirit of enterprise and adventure. Who wants an ever-growing encroachment of restrictions and limitations on the legitimate ambitions and individuality of the “common man”—and the uncommon man, also? It is time for New Zealanders to stop and think about the menace of the Socialist dictatorship, towards which this country is rapidly approaching. —lnserted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand.