STATE SOCIALISM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 110, 3 February 1919, Page 6

STATE SOCIALISM

a r ADDRESS BY PROFESSOR HUNTER. Benefits of State enterprise in' some branches of industry and commerce were discussed, by Professor T. A. Hunter in the Alexandra Hall last night. Dr. Hunter spoke of the effect of the war on businesses, especially shipping businesses, in different countries, notably Japan and Great Britain, and he showed that in fact the security which made the profits possible—not only the security of armed protection, but the security of insurance and banking—was provided by the State. He spoke also of the great advantages that.had followed the State enterprise of insurance in Queensland, in Victoria, and in New Zealand, with special reference *to the Queensland system, under which industrial insurance was a monopoly of the Stats offiuj. Comparisons made were very much in favour of the Queensland office, the premiums being lower, and the benefits more generous, in spite or the fact that the. conditions under which claims were allowed were more generous in Queensland than elsewhere. His conclusion, was that there must be an enormous exploitation of the credit system for private profit. The community should organise its business for the greatest common advantage. It seemed to him that the present financial 6ystem was insecure and wasteful, and that the remedy must be found in collective or State action. AVhy should State action be so much desired in bad times and so much- opposed in good times? AVhy was the State appealed to in wartime to take control of all things? It was said that the State could not control business, but .the fact was that State industries had to bo controlled by individuals like private enterprises. If State enterprises tailed, it was because the right people were not in charge of them. He would not for a moment suggest that State enterprises should be delivered iuto the bands of tho National Government. But Dr. Hunter did not urge that everything should be nationalised at once. The new props should be in position before the old ones were torn away. In the nieantimo there n.ight be a vigorous development towards State monopoly in insurance, banking and shipping-branches of commercial activity in which there was tnost to' be gained by State monopoly. It was no longer any use to say that these things were impossible. They could be achieved if the right people were placed at the head of the State, and it must be tho duty of the people to put in Parliament men who would put these proposals to the test—men to whom the old shibboleths of laisoez faire and competition made no appeal—men who had no other aim than the good of the community.