Socialism.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LV, Issue 8607, 15 November 1906, Page 6

Socialism.

[TO THE EDITOE.I

Sir,— I hail the mighty wisdom of the Press as embodied in the Wairar__a DailyTimes leader on Socialism, of the 12th inst. With fear and trembling I dare (and yet hope to live) to advise that monument of all wisdom, the editorial head of the Times, Ist,- to find out what Socialism really is, or, if he knows, to try and speak the truth concerning it; 2nd, to put the blame for faults committed where it should be ; and 3rd, not to talk rot. Your definition of true and false Socialism is a pearl of wisdom, with just a taint of crookedness in it—purely accidental, no doubt. I would not for a moment suggest that it is a sop to the squatter. Oh, no! Impossible! As for the " Scarlet Empire," and its author, you know—Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. If the Editor of the Wairarapa Daily Times really understands Socialism and what its aims really are, will he kindly answer the following queries ?: Ist. What need would there be, under Socialism, of one million inspectors out of four million or four hundred million people. 2nd. Are any of tho laws passed duriug the last sixteen years in this colony Socialistic laws. 3rd. Are the Socialists responsible for, and do they apapprove of, these laws. While on the subject of these laws, I, as a Socialist, must acknowledge that they have done a certain amount of good. For instance, when I first landed in this colony, I worked for the Kauri Timber Company at Aratapu. Northern Wairoa, for the splendid sum of 33s per week, out of which, mark you, I was compelled to pay the Company ISs per week for my board. If I wanted a shirt, pants, boots, tobacco—in fact anything, I was compelled to purchase it at their store, at their price, or leave, and yet the Daily Times says "people lived more happily and comfortably together twenty years ago than they do now." One remark of yours, Mr Editor, is absolutely true, viz., "There may have been less money to spend, but there was more joy in expending it." True, Oh, King 1 In my own case it was rare that I had a shilling to spend, and when I did I looked at it as a long-lost friend, I clasped it in my hand with an awful fear that if I let it go it would vanish into thin air. When, finally, I could go into a store and spend it like a free man, I was delirious with joy. But it was too much for my poor brain, and when legislation came in, which- enabled me to become more familiar with the sensation of having money to spend, it simply saved my reason -

which was threatened by these awful shocks of joy. Also, in those palmy days, a man would work for weeks or months for a contractor, only to find when he left, or the job was done, there was no money or anything else to pay him, or, if he wanted anything from the store, he got an order from the contractor, and paid something like 200 per cent, more for the goods than he otherwise need have done, and the contractor got 100 per cent, of this. Yet these are the days the Daily Times would recall. Mark my words, Mr Editor, the time is rapidly approaching when the worker will come to his senses, and understand what Socialism really is (which is quite evident you do not); when the small farmer will cease to be blinded and dominated by that great sham political octopus, the Farmers' Union, the engine of the Opposition and squatter to twist the small farmer to their views by-fine phrases and empty promises; when the manual worker and the brain worker will hail each other as brothers in one cause, the cause of justice. Oh, let it be soon! Apologising for length and thanking you in I anticipation,—l am, etc.,

Frank. E. A. Gordon

Mauriceville, Nov. 13, 1906

[Our correspondent, in his somewhat impertinent letter, does not in any way assist us in finding out what Socialism is, possibly because opinion is so divided amongst Socialists themselves that any definition of the term is impossible. He was, we consider, very fortunate in obtaining 33s per week when he arrived as a " now chum " in this colony. We doubt whether he would have got as much had he landed in a purely Socialistic community. In New Zealand, Socialism appears to us to resemble the " mat fever."—Ed. W.D.T.]