The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1930. INDEPENDENT LABOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1930. INDEPENDENT LABOUR.

A question which was put recently by a correspondent, writing in the Otago Times columns, whether the Labour Rarty in New Zealand politics expresses the views of the industrial classes in the Dominion and is therefore representative of them, has been answered in Christchurch by a number ox people who have' formed a New Zealand Independent Labour Party. The title of this party, considers the Times, is liable to cause confusion, since it embraces also a New Zealand WbrneiPs Moderate Political Party, and a confusion of ideas is conveyed also in a resolution passed at a meeting of the executive of these bodies, declaring that “the time has long since passed for any party ip New Zealand to embody tne policy of the late Bal-lance-Seddon Government of 30 years a go” Mr H. E. Holland does not tire of claiming that the Labour Party of the present time is the direct successor in policy of the Liberal-Labour Party that supported the Balance Government, and it is possible that the promoters of the Independent Labour Party have unquestionably accepted that claim, though it is of more than doubtful validity. It would be easier to relate the objective of the Labour Party to that of the I.W.W. than to that , of the Ballance-Seddon Government. There was no place in the programme of the Liberal-Labour Party for any notion so revolutionary as the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange. Nor will any such ideal—to use the word that is employed by supporters of the Labour Patty in the desire to obscure the precise nature of its policy—appeal to the majority of working men and working women in the Dominion. Translated into plain terms, it means the abolition of private ownership of wealth. One of the of the Party has, with engaging can-

dour, been enlightening the public, respecting the impropriety and indeed me wickedness of the system of the private ownership of land. He has ueen frank to a degree that may peruaps have been somewhat disconcerting bo some of his comrades. He seems to lave demonstrated to his own satisaction, if not to that of anyone else, „hat it has come into the hands of private owners. For this reason, if privae ownership is to be abolished in accordance with the policy of his party, no compensation will be paid to the owners. It is, therefore, a policy of expropriation and spoliation. Because this is what it is, it must be wholly unacceptable to all the working men and working women in New Zealand, who, by their industry and thrift, have become the owners of their own homes. The policy of the Labour Party actually goes further than this. It is not directed only against the private ownership of land. It is directed against capitalisation in all forms. But every person who lias bought a house or has become the possessor of shares in any company or is the depositor of funds in a savings bank, or has used his savings in acquiring property of any kind is a capitalist, and because lie is a capitalist, is liable to be despoiled if the Labour Party obtains the chance to carry its policy fully into execution. It would be idle to suppose that a party which parades the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange as its objective secures the allegiance of the workers who have utilised their opportunities to become small capitalists. They may support it because they are moved by a sense of c 1 a ss-co nßci ous Hess or because the principles of the other parties make no strong appeal to them. They must, however, regret that there is no Labour Party, less extreme than that headed by Mr Holland, to which they can attach themselves. Whether the party that has been formed in Christchurch is one that will attract them must depend upon the nature of the platform which it presents.