SOCIALISM WILL NOT BUILD BETTER COUNTRY, SAYS M.P.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 13, 18 July 1949, Page 7

SOCIALISM WILL NOT BUILD BETTER COUNTRY , SAYS M.P.

(Special to Beacon) Wellington, July 14.

Comparison of prices in New Zealand with those in the United States—where there were no controls and no interference —was made by Mr W. Sullivan (National, Bay of Plenty) speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives. Certain commodities in the United States were far cheaper than they were in New Zealand.

Electric light bulbs cost 2/9 to 3/6 in New Zealand, and lid in the United States. Paint in New Zealand cost about 42s a gallon, and in the United States one could buy good house paint for 23s a gallon. Clothes wringers made in the United States cost £2 11s 6d against £6 in our country. Refrigerators of nine cubic feet cost £55 in the United States and £149 in New Zealand. The ordinary garden shovel cost Us in America and 19s 6d in this country. A vacuum cleaner cost £lB 10s in New Zealand as against £ll 18s 3d in the United States. Writing On the Wall

Government members in New Zealand were obsessed with the idea that under State control and State ownership they could build a better country. But could they? Socialism was* one thing in theory and read all right in a book but it was an entirely different thing in practice. “For 12 years New Zealand has been the patient on which socialism has been practised, and that is the reason why we are going to have a change of Government in .November,” said Mr Sullivan. “The writing is on the wall, clearer today than ever before. Small wonder that Government members are worried and downcast and are viewing the coming election with great distaste. “Throughout the world we find that the socialist Governments are leaning more heavily than ever upon the capitalist system. Socialist Governments, including those of the down-trodden countries of Europe, where the people have had their fill of socialism in recent years are leaning on the United States for help day in, week in and year after year. There is plenty of evidence to convince the citizens of New Zealand that only one system has proved a success, and that is the private enterprise or capitalist system. “Wierd Theory”

“What will be the ultimate position of our people if we carry to completion this weird policy of State ownership, State control, nationalisation of everything? Are we going to reach the stage when the people will have no choice in the occupation they shall follow? Are we going to reach the stage as has been reached ir. other countries when we will have direction of labour? These are the questions that the average citizen is asking today because he realises that if this Government is returned at the General Election this year it will be justified in saying that it has a mandate from the people to go ahead with its socialisation programme and that it will be perfectly justified in putting it into full effect.”