SOCIALISM V. IMPERIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1060, 24 February 1911, Page 4

SOCIALISM V. IMPERIALISM.

While the opinions on Imperial questions, given 1 utteranco to on Wednesday evening by Mr. E. Tregear, arc not likely to be taken seriously by any but a small Socialist section'in New Zealand, thoy aro interesting as illustrating tho narrow and perverted outlook of these people on largo Imperial issues affecting tho wholo future of the British Em- • pire. It' is characteristic of tho class of persons of whom Mr. Teegear is an eloquent and admired leader, that they seldom trouble very much about facts, or probe difficult questions vory deeply. They havo certain convictions and the facts aro-mado to suit .their convictions. Mr. Treoear, for instance, , referred at some length to tho 'ret Jation' of India' to the rest of the Empire, and especially to New. Zealand, in a rambling and inconclusive fashion, but ho made one definite assertion which showed very clearly how little consideration he has really , given to the very important matter . 1h was discussing. After pointing , out how important Indian, trade was to the Mother Country; how England received ,£3,000,000 a year in interest from the Indian Empire', and so on, lie added: "What do we get out of. India ? : What is our trade 1 Nothing." • Later -on ■ho added: "H r c have no interest in In- , dia." Mr. Tregear "no doubt ex- . pressed his sincere- ;Bor , causo wc havo no direct, trade" with India—becauso wo, dcrivo no visible direct benefits f rim -India,'tho' vast Indian .Empire is nothing to us ! It probably lias ncyc't-'ocouf/cd«to; Mr. TitEQEAr, and his ■ Socialist friends that the millions 'which they admit find their way from India to England go to bonelit not merely England, :but tho whole; Empire. That British trade throughout the .world (including New Zealand) is stimulated thorcby; that Now' Zealand's ability ;to . borrow, largo sums '.of , money , for, dovclopmehtal piirpos'es is assisted ■ thereby') that 1 Britain's' ■ cnptmdus'.expchdituro' on- a ;Navy to safeguard tho-interests .'of New Zealand and tho rest of-the • Empire' 1 comes : in .part fronvthis source— these things count for nothing.with these Socialists of narrow , vision. i"Wliat," thoy ask, "does New Zealand get out of India 1.-. What is our trader' And Mn. Tregear in tho fulliiess of .his; wisdom/gives the re-, ply—"Nothing;" ' 'u-n ■ But this portion of Mn.-Treoear's speech", while interesting cnoug'h, is .less illuminating, than his exposition of the Socialists'- attitude towards tho - Mothor Country 'and his estimate of the ties which bind the overseas/ .Dominions to tho Homeland from ' which their' people have sprung. "What interest had Britain in us?" ho' asked, and the expected . reply was forthcoming from tho secretary of the Cooks' and Waiters' Union, Mr.. Oarey— "1.0.U'5.". Wo say expected reply because Miti Treqear immediately proceeded to add that Britain's interest in Now Zealand was the interest on £60,000,000—presumably meaning money lent .to the Dominion. It is'not a habit of our Socialist friends' to bo very exact. Mr. Treoear .probably -. under-estimated the amonnt of British capital invested in New Zealandby at least 50 per cent. But that is. a, detail, the point of his roraark was that in his opinion Britain's only concern with New Zealand was the safety of'the monoy she had lent it. On tho other hand . New Zealand's interest in Britain—he went so far as to admit that "wo have at present a common interest"—lies in the fact that it is only Britain's warships which prevent ner being annexod by' the first Power that comes, along. Simply this and nothing more. Sjntimcnt'_plays no, part in the union of tho British Dominions—ties of kipship oount for naught with-this gallant brotherhood; prido" of Empire, is beyond their ken. TKeir patriot-' ism is of. tho pocket variety, if Mr. Tregear's words mean anything at all. Their tie to tho Homeland is a triily noble and . inspiring one—the fear of tho enemy's warships. Of course wo Mr. Treoear is not quite the sort, of person that his speech would seem to indicate. Ho is a very earnest Socialist, inspired with tho best intentions, but inclined to be carried away by .his [ own enthusiasm and apt, under the stimulus of a sympathetic audience, ' to exceed the bounds of discretion. \ His speech on Wednesday evening was an example of this, and if, as 1 is hinted, he is about, to embark on a general campaign in the interests of Labour-Socialism, wc shall probably have many more_ instances, of similar outbreaks during the • next : few months.