A VITAL DISTINCTION.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 6

A VITAL DISTINCTION.

A distinction of importance in present day political propaganda was made by Mr W. W. Mullbolland, president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, when discussing present political trends at the annual con. ference of the union, says the Rotorua Morning Post. Mr Mulholland pointed out that the term "socialism" was often used when wbat was actually meaut was "social betterment, If the word socialism is given its correct meaning it includes social bettermeut, but uufortunate- • ly "socialism" is often used to-day without any exact regard for its meauing either by those who espouse or by those who oppose its principles. Mr Mulholland is correct wheu he claims that socialism implies the control by the State of the system of production, distribution and exchange but he was fair also in pointing out that socialism implies social betterment. New Zealand farmers, he claimed, were opposed to the first but not to the second. Among those opposed to socialistic beliefs there is a tendeney to regard the word "socialism" as interchangeable with "eommunism" or "bolshevism" or any other similar term of reproach. Without be* lieving in any of these 'isms," there is a very great number of people who still believe in social betterment. For this reason it is important to remember the distinction made by Mr Mulholland and to remember when certain projects are condemned out of hand as socialistic that they may contain that redeeming element of social betterment which will make them worth while.