FASCISM AND SOCIALISM.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 4

FASCISM AND SOCIALISM.

At the opening of the Trades Union Congress in Britain a feature of the speeches was the condemnation of fascism. The president expressed the view that fascism was an emanation of capitalism and, as such, challenged the ideals of socialism and menaced the interests of'the working class. It is interesting to note that fascism to-day is as little understood and as much misrepresented as socialism was in the early years of the present century, comments an overseas paper. It is not suggested for a moment that fascism is something that ought to be introduced into this or any other British country, but fascism, at least, has its good points and these good points are well worth studying at a time when democracy is not working altogether perfectly, with a view to determining -whether something cannot be gained for the better working of our present system.

Fascism is t not a form of government. It is rather a form of society. In Italy, fascism took its root in the decadence of socialism and in a false kind of liberalism. The weakness in democracy to-day is that there is that tendency for the welfare of the State to be subordinated to the apparent welfare of ~,the individual. Thus the; weaknesses of the individual are exploited by the politician so that the State suffers. Actually the sufferer in the long run is the individual, but this is not always brought home. Under fascism class is relegated to a position of subordination to the State instead of being the tune to which the State must dance. From these principles, democracy as practised, has a great deal to learn. It is obvious that democracy needs some protection against itself, but how far these checks may lean towards fascist principles is a matter entirely for the national characterisation* and institutions of each country.

Where socialism conflicts with fascism is that they are rival systems. Thus, while democracy might gain from a study of fascist principles, socialism can never hope to, else it would cease to be socialism and become syndicalism. The . fascist system does not pretend to advance the interests of any particular class but to guarantee the general well-being of both the working classes and the employers, not supporting the interest of one class or the single individual. It would appear to be near the position of ultimate rest of the industrial pendulum. In the last century, the pendulum has swung from one extreme to the other —from the capitalist to the socialist extremes. Fascism is somewhere between the two extremes. As such, both capitalism and socialism have to undergo some modification in'order to approach it. i.