DR. FINDLAY'S – OTOPIA

Observer, Volume XXIX, Issue 46, 31 July 1909, Page 2

DR. FINDLAY'S - OTOPIA

The Latest Convert to Socialism

LET the Socialists rejoice and be exceeding glad. Let them operate noisily upon the timbrel, the lute, and the harp. Let them emit more or Ices harmonious strains from the sackbut and the psaltery, whatever these weird instruments may be. Yea, let them indulge in all kinds of musick. For of a surety an exceedingly big fish has sailed serenely into the meshes of their net. According to a speech that he recently delivered at Dunedin, no less a personage than the Hon. Dr. Findlay, Attorney-Gen-eral, has joined the ranks of the Socialists: Whether the doctor covets a share of the limelight that has lately been shed upon that afflicted martyr A. W. Hogg, or not, it is impossible to say. But the undeniable fact remains that the gifted author of " Humbugs and Homilies " has by his utterances made it plain that Ids views are, in the main, identical with those of the Socialists.

According to the telegraphed account of Dr. Findlay's speech, " State Control " is his watchword. What other deduction can be drawn following statement : "It should be the aim of Government" to bring within the reach of the willing workerr the means whereby he might equip himself to use his hands and the means whereby .he might earn his own livelihood." There is no time like the present to apply this theory. The cry of the unemployed is echoing loudly throughout the land, but the Government so far have done, little to respond: .to that cry. But

it is quite clear that if Dr. Findlay — who, by the way, was elected to his present exalted position by the undemocratic system of nomination — was J*rime Minister, the unemployed problem would soon be a thing of the past. It is true that the learned and eloquent doctor doesn't explain the practical working of his scheme ; but that isn't necessary. Theory is the keynote of the Socialistic edifice, anfl as a theorist Dr. Findlay is, judging by his Dunedin utterances, facile princeps.

Says the doctor : " The State must also find means by which the leisure of its people could be 'employed. Let it find music and art, and proper theatres, libraries, art galleries, and whatever would tend to enrich the leisure of the people who might otherwise be led to vicious ways." It isn't very clear what Dr. Findlay means by talking about " proper " theatres. Does he mean to insinuate, for instance, that John Fuller's local virtuous palace is an improper theatre ? Irrespective of that question, however, the idea of running State theatres is an ultraSocialistic one. In theory the notion may be attractive enough. In practice it would be foredoomed to failure. And no one should know this better than the Hon. Dr. ■ Findlay himself. Still, the idea is one that is quite in accord with Socialistic opinions, and, as Dr. Findlay has apparently, and very suddenly, become converted to the Socialistic creed, it is perhaps not to be wondered at that he lias promulgated such a theory.

Another point upon which the At-torney-General waxed eloquent was the necessity for the Government to concede equal liberty to all men. In Dr. Findlay's own words, " The principal function of the State was to meet men and women and equip them for the race of life by making them more effective members of our social system, and not only give them that freedom which meant liberty, but also freedom of opportunity." One can imagine the mixed feelings with which the emnloyer of labour heard or read the sublime 6ayings of th}e learned lawytefr. Liberty and freedom of opportunity are fine ideals, no doubt, but, so far as the employer is concerned, they don't exist in this Dominion. Hedged in on all sides by Arbitration Court awards and other disabilities, the wretched employer finds that the amount jf liberty that he possesses is so small that 'it might aptly be termed a missing quantity. Another remark that emanated from the sapient At-torney-General was to the effect that "The" waste from the misuse and nonuse of land was greaten- probably hene than anywhere else." _ This is very true, but whose fault is it ? Is it not the fault of that Government of which the Hon. Dr. Findlay is a prominent member ?

The question is what Sir Joseph Ward will have to say concerning the Socialistic utterances of his At- ' torney - General. The strenuous Hogg was hurled from his high Ministerial estate because he promulgated certain theories that were not in accord with those of his colleagues. Will Sir Joseph be prepared to support Dr. Findlay as regards the necessity for establishing a State theatre ? Will he be willing to admit that the Government must find work for all the unemployed ? In a word, will he endorse all the Socialistic theories of Dr. Findlay ? Or will the gifted, but visionary, author of ''Humbugs and Homilies" be ultimately cast into outer darkness, as happened to Mr Hogg ? It is possible, of course, that Dr. Findlay is seeking after martyrdom. Judging from Mr Hogg's recent experiences, martyrdom is not so unpleasant, after all. And it is probable that, unless the Attorney-General pipes a different tune before his chief comes back, he will make a second in the lately instituted noble army of martyrs. But in the meantime, the Socialists may indulge in all sorts of. glad noises. In fact, if they really' feel inclined that way, they may exclaim ' " Hallelujah !" '