NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 6

NOTES OF THE DAY

A Labour-Socialist candidate speaking at Christchurch last week declared that there was nothing like Bolshevism in the Labour Party's platform. No doubt, now that Bolshevism in Russia is so plainly ex-' posed in its true colours, the same disclaimer will be made generally by Labour extremists, but they will not in this way dispose of the fact that their activities as a group have been essentially on Bolshevik lines. Applied in Russia, Bolshevism has worked out as a policy of unrelieved destruction. _ln_ their scope and effect the activities of Labour-Socialist extremists in this country have also been purely destructive. The results are seen in unsettled industrial conditions which operate to !.he detriment of all concerned, including those sec-tions-of the wage-earners who arc most under extremist influence. Our local extremists must bear tho reproach of creating such conditions and of preventing the progress that would have been made under more rational methods towards better industrial and social conditions. It is the direction of the activities in which the extremists habitually engage that has to he considered. Obviously it does not entitle them to any credit that the standards of intelligence obtaining in this country make incredible any duplication of the horrors enacted in Russia. They must still face the fact that their activities tend to the creation of such conditions.

Wnoxa tendencies in politics appear in little things as well as great. For instance, in addressing his supporters at Petone on Monday evening Mr.T. M. Wilfoud gave a striking exhibition of the unpleasant habit some politicians develop of over-emphasising their individual self-importance. The member for Hutt reeled off a list of legislative and other measures which he claimed as his own personal achievements. "I have, ■off my own bat' since I last met you," he told his.hearers, "succeeded in carrying progressive social reforms which all will agree with." Had he not been lost in admiration of his own greatness the complacent ex-Minister might have reflected that the little phrase "all will agree with" heavily discounts his extravagant claims. No one' will grudge him his share of credit for what he did in connection with the safety of men working on wharves and ships, prison reform, and other matters, but it is, of course, a familiar fact that the co-operation of the Government and Parliament find much Departmental and other assistance are essential in carrying out such improvements and reforms. A politician ought- to be preserved by his sense of humour, if .he has one, from assuming the airs of a lordly disponser of benefits because he has been enabled to do some useful work as a cog in the political machine. Such an attitude is objectionable "because it militates against co-operative effort, and smooth-working co-operation .is the thing that tells in Parliament or in any other place where work is done or attempted. B » * «

Not for the first time Sir Joseph Ward said in his speech at Christchurch that lie bolinvcd the Government should _ take over the farms sold by soldiers at the price at which the soldiers disposed of them, and sell those farms hack to the soldiers. ■ Presumably the Opposition Leader expects this proposal to bo regarded as just and equitable. On the slightest examination it is seen to be as unjust and inequitable as it is from every standpoint unsound. Apart from the fact that farms disposed of by soldiers during the wiir period may easily have since changed hands more than once and may now be held by owners who have paid the full market value, it lias to be considered that money has depreciated in value and purchasing power very materially since the outbreak of war, and that tiie depreciation has been progressive. From the computations of the Government Statistician it appears that money has now only about two-thirds of the purchasing power it had in 1914. Thus even where a farm sold by a soldier is still held by the original purchaser, to resume it at tho. price paid to the soldier would be to compel the purchaser to accept considerably less than he paid. , • Another complication, if it were needed, appears in the fact that in many eases farms sold by men going into camp must have been bought by returned soldiers. On the face of it, 8m Joseph Ward's proposal would work out in wholesale injustice. It is, of course, the duty of the Dominion to see that all men who gave up farms to go to the war are. given a fair opportunity of securing new holdings on their return. Liberal provision has been made to this end, and it is perhaps .'is striking a tribute as could be paid to tho soldier settlement scheme that Sin Joseph Ward is able to suggest no more practical extension of its operation than the unjust and ill-considered electioneering proposal lie repeated at Christchureh.