Freedom in Reply.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13418, 4 July 1911, Page 8

Freedom in Reply.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l notice in your issue of 30th inst. a correspondent signing himself “A common sense socialist,” has gone to considerable trouble to answer ray letter. It is with some degree of satisfaction I notice he does not disagree with me altogether. He says, "The church shows little real sympathy with labour, though to do them justice it is probably because they do not properly understand labour’s aspirations." Judging by the tone of C.ri.S.’s letter, I should imagine he is in the same boat, which I will endeavour to prove before I finish this letter. He also says, my talk about the defence system makes him tired. It is marvellous what a little it takes to make some people tired. 1 would advise ('.8.8. to carefully avoid work or the. result might prove disastrous. Perhaps he would find living on the products of Hie workers’ much more congenial. He continue; to Ray—Aly talk about conscript ion (suggests that I do not know the meaning of the word. For the benefit of C.8.8. (as lie seems to have some mircomeption alum! if), I would inform him that conscription moans—“ The compulsory enrolment of individuals "or the purpose of military service.” Have not the young men of Wanganui within the proscribed age limit been informed through the columns of this paper that an less they enrol for the purpose of military service they render themselves liable to a heavy penalty; and that the payment of the same is no exemption from service. I would ask, is not this conscription What ('.8.8. lias really taken exception to is the word, and not its meaning. I fail to find in mv letter anything that affirms that a system of defence in not necv'Aary. What I take exception to is universal compulsory military training, and what it leads to. I would aek C.8.8. why the Boers of South Africa moved sm-li an obstinate and determined foe. It cannot be argued that it was because of their military training. Was it not liecansc they were lighting for a common cause, their honirs, their wives and families, their countryr And anyone that would argue that New Zealanders would not be prepared to do the same Mould necessarily arise, would (to use C.8.8.’.s words) ri? play deplorable ignorance. I venture to say that were if not for the moral support of the navy, there would he no Transvaal State, or Orange River Colony to-day. The same argument applies. Should Japan and Co. deem it prudent to invade our shores, they would find New Zealanders an equally obstinate and determined toe. Not the result of compulsory military training, but because they would bo fighting for one common purpose against a common foe. It is not too training that makes the soldier to-dav. It is the caiude ho is fighting for. However. inasmuch as the tear of an invasion from Japan and Co. is to a great extent imaginary, what .-.ocialists arc directly concerned aGiiit to-day is the enemy within the gates—Capitalism and its' righthand supporter (and ever has been) the military. I am quite prepared to admit that socialists arc a quiet lot of people, but their aims and asuiiatioiiis will never U' achieved without a struggle, as C.8.8. would suggest. What socialists seek vs, (1) the right to the wealth they create, through the channels of organised labour, and forcing their just demands: (2) to supplant lompctition for existence by a sy-tem of fiMipcrution ; pi) to obtain control of the means of pi uiluct ion and ilist.ibiilaui. Would C.S.S. niiggest that (his ran be done v.iliio.it a struggle. If so, then he does not appreciate the power of , a pita 1 ism that lias been built up, out of the profits and .surplus value of labour. ( ,B.B'is upholding of tin* Arbitration Court displays a total ignorance ot the attitude of these tribunal.-, towards labour. I am not interested in what "has been" achieved through Hie A. C. We do not live on onr past; we have adopted a spirit of progress, and if the A.C.’s, are unable to keep pace with tills progressive spirit, if will of necessity be left behind. I would refer C.8.8. to the number of unions that have aheadv cancelled their registration because they recognise that if Hie A.C.’s have over'been Useful (which is doubtful as they have given Hie unions nothing that could not have tieen obtained by a conference of delegates from Hie employing eias.-, and workers, or the usual method to which the unions will have to revert). They have outlived their usefulness, as was -'.usH-a-ted in Friday’s issue of this caper, and which C.S.s. mii-t have read if he carefully peru.-d its ealiiinr.o. Sitting at the Arbitration Court at Christchurch Hie Judge is reported to have said;—“lf the minimum rate of wage were increased- for that reason there would be a great rush to the ranks of the carpc'.uers and joiners by a large number of in >n. and so increase the nnmlier of unemployed. That such a statement as misleading no quo can deny. Can a man purchase a kit ol tools and say he is a joiner liecause wages are increased. If so. it would denote that the standard of ability required is of a very low order. Tin’s avenue ot employment is open thrown the medium of apprenticeship, and are not the number of apprentices regulated by the number of men employed - If ‘he Judge had said he was -not in sympathy with the demands of Hie Union lie would have given expression to a feeling he evidently suppressed. I have neither the time nor the inclination to answer the other rubbish contained in C.S.S’s letter, viz., keeping niy door locked at night, police, etc., etc. The only deductions I can make from such interpolations is, that (1 .8.8. is not a C.8.8. at all. as h-‘ would make us believe, but an A.8.8. I am, etc., FREEDOM. July Ist, 1911,.