A Woman's "Views on Socialism,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5270, 29 May 1895, Page 4

A Woman's "Views on Socialism,

At a recent meeting under the auspices of the Charity Organisation Sooiety in London, Miss Helen Dendy read a paper on "Sonje Points in the Spoialiat Propaganda." She maintained that

The aims and tendencies of Socialism were in direct opposition to the fundamental principles of the Charity Organisation Society. These she took to be, first, that the economic independence of all classes was desirable, aa being most likely to promote the highest life; and, seoondly, that by a wise administration of charitable and poor-law relief this economic independence could be attained for all. Socialism, on the contrary, aimed at economic dependence, and tended, both direotly and indirectly, to degrade primarily the working classes and ultimately the whole community. Socialist ideas were not loftier than those of the 'ordinary, well-meaning citizen, except in the sense that they were vague and more remote. All alike desired that what was bad in our present system Bhould' be eliminated. The economic ideal of Socialism had. never been presented in a sufficiently tangible form for criticism; it remained a mere abstraction. Economically Socialibm would seem to tend towards a rapid increase in the time and labour requisite to supply the bare necessaries of life. There was little ground for supposing that the ultimate benefits of Socialism would be such as to justify any immediate evilß> whioh might re.ult from its propaganda. Such an evil-was likely to be the degradation of character consequent Upon the Socialist dootrine that defects of character were not injurious to tbe economic welfare of any "class, but that, on the contrary, universal thrift and temperance and industry would make the working classes poorer than they were now.

It is to be feared, from this summary of her remarks, that Mica Dendy has not Btudi.d 4he literature of Socialism with sufficient diligence. If she had, she would not have complained of lack of tangible form in the .proposals. As it is, Bhe seems to have read some distorted expositions of Socialism, and to have based her paper upon extraneous opinions, held perhaps by Socialists,, but forming no part of the socialistic programme. The essential features of Socialism do not tend to increase the cost of production cr distribution, bu. quite the reverse. There is no such "Socialist doctrine" as that which Bhe quotes with referenoe to temperance,' thrift and industry. In like manner, doctrines discrediting the institution ;of marriage, and declaring the maintenance of all children to be the duty of . the State, may be held by' aome Socialists ; but these are extreme opinions, endorsed by no socialistift 'organisation, and at the same time held by some who have no sympathy whatever with Socialism. llt -is a very old-fashioned method cf polemical warfare to depict imaginary evils and then demolish them. But that is about all that Miss Dendy has done, no doubt to the complete satisfaction of thpse good folk who believe that pauperism oan be cured by ," organising '" its relief, ..and that the way to economic independence can be payed by discriminating doles.