MR. FIELD AND THE "MAORILAND WORKER"

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 10

MR. FIELD AND THE "MAORILAND WORKER"

(To the Editor.)

r>- eeß Jy , your that Mr. field, the member for Nelson, and Mr." w?: 6 wlitor .o f the "Jlaorilaud W ork&r, have carried on a discussion ro certain • matters appertaining to the war.: Incidentally my name has cropped up, and Mr. Field quoted from a letter which I addressed to the "Worker." Personally, I abhor controversies at the present time. Things are too serious to be trifled with. ;The State is in danger, and h'as to be protected. The individuals who compose that State arc called upon 'to make sacrifices. Well, there is nothing strange about that; each epoch has had its difficulties, and had to find out means to preserve its status. That wejiave got to employ modem weapons to combat our adversaries is only l «, stage in the great drama. Being, a Socialist, and also always regarding the State as the supreme factor in democracy, I care not whether the State demands the protection of its existence by voluntary military aid or by compulsion. 111 the past we have been fed upon stock phrases liko "Voluntarism," "Preetrade," "Protection," and so on. Unscrupulous politicians have-made, us he-, lieve that these things are of the most vital importance—forgettiug that the world is changing and . requires new methods. Of course, it mav be argued— and it has been done so—that our particular State is not in danger, hence the Government, who acts as its mouthpiece, has no right to demand these sacrifices. That is just the crux of the whole position. Whether we like it or not (and I venture to say that ninety-nine per cent, do like it) we are 'members'of ail Empire, and that being so, that Empire being threatened by ail outside, force, duty and honour demandi that we should do all. ill our power to uphold that unity. No power on earth will persuade me to give up theso essentials because certain politicians—or even the whole Government—fail to do certain things like conscription of wealth (another stock phrase), or so on. After all, here we have unbounded opportunities. The people can change the personnel of the' Government whenever they desire. If they don't they deierve what they have. The whole truth is tnat Labour couM have controlled tho State long ago—if it would have' been wisebut, unfortunately, those who .took vpon themselves to steer .the ship have had' the wrong compass. Their .netbjds were c.rudo, and not scientific. 111 many instances stubbornness and prejudice have b'ceri the cause of disaster. Let 110 nan '.think that I am only surmising. I h.ive been too long associated with Ilia advance guard. A gbod many of us v>ue against the South African campaigns. Tho champion, whom England extols today, had to be smuggled away at Birmingham, less tho hostile crowd should attack. I mean Mr. Lloyd George. But this war is different. Dr, Liebknecht in the Reichstag declared that the instigators of this war were members <•!' his own-nation. The German Chancellor having given an ultimatum that !io piace overtures can be made except according to the- present war map, means that the Allied Forces of Democracy will have to humiliate the War Lords of Germany till they ask for pardon for tho wrong committed. When that.is done, then we shall be able to resume our activities as Democrats to-remodel the modern. State. Meanwhile, every trade union secretary ought to bo a recruiting agent, every union office a recruiting oflice, Parliament its headquarters, the members actively engaged towards that end. Whatever the defect may bs-and-they are many-in spite of all the shortcomings,.:, the Democracy is sound for winning ibis v. ai, and Labour its chief driving force—l " m,etc " : . j. 1. FOX, . Sapper, >.Z.iy