THE LABOUR PARTY AND SOCIALISM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21154, 29 September 1938, Page 11

THE LABOUR PARTY AND SOCIALISM

To the Ed.tor ot " The Tlmaru Herald ” Sir,—The presentation of Socialism by the average New Zealand politician varies according to his education (or lack of it), prejudices, emotions, past personal history and present grudge against persons or class. Often it boils down to an impossible “hotch-potch” of half baked theorising and legislation designed not so much to benefit the under dog as to penalise the successful. Sometimes it is just plain yammering devoid of practical application. It now falls to the lot of Mr Lee to provide a gem of political thought. A recent review quotes from his new book the following: “Payment by results under Capitalism is an exploiter’s device; under Socialism it is an intelligent social contract.” Here is the true dictator spirit. Hitler reasons along similar lines that persecution is not really persecution when applied to Jews, it is probably an intelligent social act. If piece work is wrong in principle, it is wrong, no matter who puts it into operation. If it is right why should it be called an exploiter's device. Mr Lee cannot have it both ways. But, there; the Socialist wants it both ways. He disarmed Britain and immediately wanted to fight Japan, Italy and Franco. Now he wants to stampede Mr Chamberlain into fighting Germany before Britain has regained the armed strength dissipated by the Labour Party. The truth of the matter is that LabourSocialism is not a matter of clearheaded thinking and the exercise of cold judgment. It is the product of an emotional state compounded of jealousy, hate, and a lust to regiment and dominate fellow men. In many cases it is an expression of the individual’s resentment at his own failure to make good in the community as at present organised. The reasoning is “I could not possibly be the cause of my own failure; the organisation ot society is wrong, and does not give me a chance. Let us alter the system!’’— I am, etc., C-SENSE. Timaru. September 28.