“TO ROCK SOCIETY”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17022, 21 April 1923, Page 6

“TO ROCK SOCIETY”

LLOYD GEORGE PREDICTS STORMS. THE MENACE OF SOCIALISM. The following article rod all Mr Lloyd George’s subsequent, articles are copyright by the United Press in Amerioa- and all countries. They are copyright in New Zealand and Australia by the Australian Press and til© copyright in Britain is held by the “ Daily Chronicle.’’ Reproduction in full or in part is prohibited.

(Received April 21, 8.5 a.m ) LONDON, April 19. ‘ A few weeks ago.” writes Mr Lloyd George. “1 predicted that the comparative calm prevailing in British politic il seas during the past lew years was com ing to an end. Recent parliamentary' scenes leave no doubt that the prolonged political depression, will be followed hy a period oi storms, and, it may be, of hurricanes. REAL ISSUES IN SIGHT. “No amount of organisation or propaganda can excite real feeling m :\a electorate over trivial, unreal” issues. The war was real enough, but the war was supported by men of all parties. Therefore it provoked no political controversy, the minority opposing it being negligible. The Treaty of Peace, on thi whole, was accepted by all parties when first submitted to Parliament. Coalition legislation, although in ordinary seasons it would have aroused angry passions, coming as it did after war had the emotions, was passed with no more than a feeble murmur of protest. Take, for instance, adult suffrage, the enfranchisement of women, the wholesale reduction of hours oi labour, representative government for India and, notably, Home Rule for Ireland, winch was more complete than any proposed by Gladstone. Any of these subjects before the war would have led to heated discussions throughout the land. IRKL A ND : S CA SE. “ Ireland's case was most significant of the changed temper of the nation. Immediately after the war fiercer pas sions had been stirred over Ireland than over any other political question m modern times. The causes underlying the conflict, dealt with the most powerful motives which make the human heart throb—race and religion. There was the old feud between Saxon and Gael, extending over at least seven centuries. Vi*hen Gladstone proposer! to settle this raging tumult by wresting supremacy from the race which had beGU dominant for seven hundred years, passions were raised keener and angrier than any witnessed in British politics for many a day, and it led to scenes of physical violence on the floor of the House. It shows what- we may expect when « genuine division oY omnion profoundly moves masses <«f men and women in a democracy. A VIOLENT REACTION. For years political controversy habeen suspended in the presence of a

common danger. .Reaction was inevit able, and the greater the suppression the more violent the rebound. That, however, does not altogether account 3 °r the omens visible of a coming struggle unprecedented in gravity. Fundamental issues have been raised of such moment to millions that- they cannot be settled without a struggle that will rock society. The scene enacted in the House oUtJommons a few days ago gave me an uneasy feeling that the period of calm was definitely over. Parliament henceforth must expect gusts and gales and worse. THE SOCIALIST CHALLENGE. “ There are signs of a great stir coming in British politics. The cause is easily explained. The sense of exhaustion is passing away, and issues containing a serious challenge to the rights and privileges of powerful classes of the community, and jfital to the interests ol all classes, have been raised by one of the great political parties that divide Britain. The momentous character of that challenge may be gathered troni the terms of Air Philip Snowden’s moti°n. Few men outside the Socialist Party were quite prepared for this demand of a complete change in the organisation of society. Even for students of Socialistic literature the actual introduction of the resolution camc as a surprise and shock. At the last election the Socialist poll aggregated, the imposing figure of 4,251,000 votes. KILLING CAPITAL “CHINESE FASHION." “Mr Ramsay MacDonald states categorically that he knows that Independent Labour members, exclusive of the leaders, favour nationalisation, and a capital levy. Thus, nearly one-hall' or the British electorate is already prepared to assent to Socialism in easy stages, which is the purport of Mr Philip Snowden’s amendment. Hence the new sense of struggle with which tiie political atmosphere is palpitating. Capitalism is to be arraigned before the Supreme Court of the nation, con demned and sentenced to be executed by instalments. Chinese fashion. The composition of that court to-day is not favourable to the prosecution, but who will be the judges after the next gen eral election ? DANGER OF COMPLACENCY. “The average comfortable citizen is still inclined to think these Socialistic schemes .so crazy as to be impossible. They cannot believe that twenty-one millions of sane people, can possibly contemplate giving sanction to such instantly overlooked by the complacent—first, that property less men and women constitute the overwhelming majority of the electors : second, that there is i great preponderance of the industrial population over the steadier, more stolid, agricultural population. WILL SOCIALIST FEVER SPREAD. “ Sixty per cent of the population in America, France anti Italy are still agrarian. Barely 10 per cent of tin* British population are engaged in cultivating the soil. Most of our workers have their being in the crowded, excitable atmosphere of factories, workshop.-, and mines. Hence the rapidity with which the fever has spread. Can it b« arrested? Nothing will he done until the danger is visible to every eye. The trouble can be averted only in two ways. One is the systematic inculcation of sound doctrines of economic truth into the minds of the workers. The second and more important is the rooting out of social evils which furnish the revolutionary with striking and indisputable object-lessons of th? failure of the capitalistic system as an agent of human happiness. Without the latter the former effort would be futile. IF FASCISM COPIES. - ‘ M§9nwbile?lettth,e. of the

existing order take note of the Socialists’ efforts to advertise their eagerness to redress the wrongs of ex-servicemen and soften the asperities of discipline for soldiers. The Socialists have shrewd ly noted the causes producing the over throw of their Italian brethren, and mean to ensure that if Fascism comes Britain it will be an ally and not a foe,’ 1