CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 36, 11 August 1936, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

FACING THE FACTS

THREAT OF SOCIALISM

I (To the Editor.) Sir,—The gravest question facing this community today is Socialism. Are we prepared to become a Socialistic Slate or not? It is abundantly evident from enactments •to date and from speeches of Ministers inside and outside of Parliament that' the preseni Government is determined to thrust Socialism upon us, but it is safe to assert that once the electors realise this and public opinion is fully expressed, Ministers will realise that the people of New Zealand, of whom the greatest majority are direct descendants of those virile pioneers who laid the basis of our prosperity, are determined that Socialism shall not reign. The great, majority of New Zealanders .desire liberty, above all things liberty to live I and liberty to work with as little interference as possible from Governments and Government officials. Socialism may suit some nations, although' even that is doubtful, but the British Empire was not built on such a political system and would not long remain an Empire under it. , I If we choose Socialism, then it inevitably follows that the calibre of the New Zealand people ■ will deteriorate and many things enjoyed today, and so earnestly striven for in the past, will disappear from our midst for ever. Take away ambition, take away the desire to worK.for the sake of achievement, take away individual freedom, take away .all splendour of life, and what is left?- A deadly dullness, producing a letnargy, which will surely paralyse all endeavour. ' In the eyes of the present Government, any successful man, one who has laboured and toiled when other men slept, is one whose activities must be curbed by excessive taxation and cumbersome laws. No one objects to reasonable taxation. All realise that the State must have revenue, but when taxation reaches the point it now has in New Zealand, the effect.in the long run must be disastrous. The argument that taxaton is, in the main, no higher here than in England and is, therefore, justifiable, ignores facts. England is a wealthy creditor country, with capital available for all legitimate enterprises, whereas enterprise in New Zealand depends largely for capital on savings from business. If a business cannot, or does riot, build up reserves, it must .inevitably perish. Excessive taxation will prevent this being done. , The Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that no one need have any fear, but there is much uneasiness in the country today.-Even our newspapers, with few exceptions, appear to be afraid to criticise Government action as strongly as it deserves to be criticised, and Chambers of Commerce, Manufacturers' Associations, and other bodies are supine. A country is likely to get the Government it deserves and, unless public opinion expresses itself in no uncertain terms through all channels, we are certainly doomed to Socialism. Does our Government really believe that our young men are so dead to all ambition that they look forward to a ■ life controlled by Government legislation and trade unions? Most boys, I believe, start out with an earnest desire to do their utmost to make a success of their lives. They look forward to the time when they will occupy prominent positions in the community, when they will control businesses or.achieve success in some other field. Woe to the land which does not breed such boys. Under recent legislation, these youths are to be deprived of opportunity. Any ambitious youngster who wishes to work harder than his fellows will, no doubt, be called a "black leg." He must be a trade unionist and his working hours are forty a week. All reasonable persons agree that trfide unions are necessary, but the effect of recent legislation is trade unionism gone mad.: It is time to face tHe situation. Let all who are opposed to Socialism combine. Let no drift appear. Let no side issue be raised, but let the next election be fought on the all-important question, "Socialism—For or Against." —I am, etc. ANTI-SOCIALIST, j