The Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1915. SOCIALISM AND THE WAR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144629, 15 March 1915, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1915. SOCIALISM AND THE WAR.

Some years ago many persons were caused much anxiety by what seemed to be the rapid drift towards-socialism. Not a few began to fear that from the cradle (provided by the Slate Supply Department) to the grave (a niche in the State crematorium) all their activities would soon bo strictly, supervised by State officials. These alarmist views now seem . to have been exaggerated for, even in Australia, where tho Government of the' Commonwealth and several States has been in the hands of the Labour Party which believes in socialism, the steps

taken towards this ideal have not been very rapid. The Commonwealth has imposed a fairly heavy land-tax, which no one seriously objects to except, the large landowners, and various States have made rather unsuccessful efforts in the direction ot Slate brick work's, coal mines, hotels and steamers. In tact: though Labourites still pass formal resolutions in favour of the Stale, ownership of all th(! means of production and distribution, Labour Ministers with a little practical experience of administration realise that any rapid steps towards carrying out the programme are. quite, out of the question. One may in fact safely say that the wave of social,ism lias largely spent its force and that, though the, drift is towards the extension ot State enterprise, it is not so rapid as to threaten any immediate danger. Most people admit that, some undertakings are lar better earned on by the State than they would be by private associations. There is, for example, no doubt that education and the postal and telegraphic services are belter entrusted to the administration of the State. It is worthy of note that the pareels post, and the savings bank, wbieh we are accustomed to associate with the postal department, have, only recently been added to the activities of the government, in the I'nited Stales. As to railways there is some difference of opinion, but probably it would be generally admitted that in a new country, where vested interests have pot arisen, it is the wiser course tor the State to umierbike the construction of railways, or at any rate to have the right to purchase lines built by private enterprise without, any payment for gaiodwill. The general feeling of well-informed people to-day is that every extension of Stole enterprise should be considered purely on its merits, as a business proposition, with due allowance for the fact that the State never succeeds in running a business as cheaply as a private person can do. One notable feature of the present war is that' it has necessitated an enormous increase in tlio activity of the State in many unexpected directions, and it is probable that, by the time peace has been declared, some valuable information will have been obtained as to whether if is desirable to make these new developments permanent. In Britain as soon as war broke out the (fovernenint took over all the railways in order to carry out the required movements of the troops. It further guaranteed hills of exchange for private persons in order to restore financial .stability, and recently Mr. Lloyd tieorge announced that the State was going to take over all the engineering works in the country, so as to ensure that the maximum output ot war material might be produced, without any ot the disputes as to wages which were interfering with the conduct of business on the Clyde and elsewhere. Though it has not been stated definitely, it would appear that the works will he run under what practically amounts to martial law ; wages will be fixed by the Government, and Kitchener methods will bo used with those who do not accept them without murmuring. The Government has also gone into the. sugar business by the expenditure of eighteen million sterling in the purchase, of sugar and recently commandeered tho whole of the frozen meat exported from Australasia. In Britain, Australia and Hew /calami attempts have been made to fix prices for various commodities, and Mr. Massey lias announced that tbe Government, hero is prepared to establish bakeries in the four chief centres if the price of bread continues to advance. The fixing of prices is a very interesl- . iug experiment, because many persons allege that where, as in this country, wages are fixed by an Arbitration Court, the only way to keep the cost of. living from rising unduly is to fix prices, also. It seems probable, that the Stale determination of prices is bound to hn a failure, unless the prices fixed are practically those which would prevail in any case, hut the. political economists will ho able to give, us information on the point when things have once more become normal. In the meantime the wild plunge of Britain and the dominions into social-

istic experiments owing to the disturbed conditions due to the war is full of interest to the student of social affairs.