A SOCIALIST'S BUNKUM.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 July 1925, Page 1

A SOCIALIST'S BUNKUM.

lilt; TALK—NO SOLUTION. (Received this day at 10.‘Jo a.i11.) LONDON .July JO. Mr K"ales President of the Trade Union Congress addressing the Commonwealth Labour Conference made a tiery onslaught against capitalism and imperial ism. .lie declared:---* We me passing through an intense phase of economic imperialism which is creatine serious problems for organised lulu, nr in every country. Imperialism, in its present form, marks the hist .stage of the development of capitalism, il represents the tiual ofloris of the groups which control financial and indusli'ial capita’! in the most highly organised countries to secure markets for their goods and new opportunities for investment. The Imperialists never tel! the naked truth about their doings; they camouflage the brutal facts by" talking about the glory of the Umpire, the pride of race and the advstnci* of civilisation, i'conoinic inipel ialisin uses the language of patriotism and even of religion. In reality it is the exploitation and the oppressinn of weaker peoples, the intensification of commercial rivalries and antagonisms which lead to war. Such imperialism menaces the ideal of peace, co-operation and good will between nations, which the Labour movement exists to promote. But tuero aie possibilities of inter-Dominion relationships, nnitv ol policy and the development of the common interests within the British Commonwealth, with which organised Labour must concern itself. The trade unionists could not aflord to neglect capital’s exploitation of cheap labour in countries which are becoming the weapon with which to heat down oar own workers' standards. Dealing with migration, Air Swales said: “Immigrants must always represent a menace to superior standards of employment and wages in Australia New Zealand and Canada. Better methods must Ire found for developing the resources of the world than the methods pursued by capitalist groups.”