BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1948 ANSWER TO COMMUNISM IS NOT FASCISM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 14, 20 January 1948, Page 4

BAY OF PLENTY BEACON Published Tuesdays and Fridays. TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1948 ANSWER TO COMMUNISM IS NOT FASCISM

Mr Henry Wallace, stormy petrel of American politics, advocate of liberalism in international dealings, in warning that America is treading the road to war, has said that a prophecy that Fascism would come to the States clothed in the language of Democracy is coming true. As an example of what he means he quotes in his magazine “New Republic” the passing by Congress by 310 votes to 61 of a bill which would discharge Federal employees suspected of disloyalty without a statement of charges or the right to question their accusers.

His comment is that “the 80th Congress wrote itself a ringing chapter in the history of American hysteria.” At this distance, it does look a bit that way. Nor would it matter very much here had it not been for the significant fact that in our own House of Representatives the Prime Minister was asked if it was the Government’s intention to take similar action in New Zealand.

So far nothing has been done along those lines. It is to be hoped nothing ever will be. But the fact that such a question was asked does suggest that there are people here who would seri,osly contemplate starting a Gardarene gallop to Fascism by interfering with the basic rights of free subjects. For to duplicate the panic legislation referred to by Mr Wallace would be to deny to civil servants the right to hold any political opinion not dictated by the party in power. From that point to Fascism is only a short step.

It is recalled that the state of mind that leads to suggesting such measures is fear-—fear of Communism, fear blind, unreasoning and, so long as we act with common sense, baseless.

It has been said in this column before and it is here repeated that Communism is a doctrine that thrives on suppression. It is based on struggle. Without the need for struggle, without the dissatisfaction of the oppressed it lacks that by which it grows. It has been said before and is now repeated that Democracy’s answer to Communism is not to suppress it, but to show that free people in a free society can be happier and better provided for than regimented serfs in a State straight jacket. To try to forestall Communism with Fascism is to repeat the error the Germans made. Did not Hitler represent himself as a socialistic saviour of his nation against the Bolshevist Dogey? And what is happening to the Nazi satellites today? Is it not a fact that extreme Leftist tendencies are more in evidence than ever before?

Oppression, hunger, rigid controls are all the allies of Communism. Decent standards of living, co-operation between employer and employee, freedom of thought and freedom of action are the antidotes.

Communism is a doctrine that can never be legislated out of existence. It thrives underground. It is a product of the shade, but it will never find a home in the hearts of a people who are happy and contented with their lot.

It is seriously suggested that our legislators can best insure against this thing that recent utterances in the House suggest both Government and Opposition fear by directing their efforts towards avoiding those conditions that will make its spread inevitable and creating and maintaining those conditions that will make its doctrine of class war ridiculous.