POLITICS AND ECONOMIES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1931, Page 6

POLITICS AND ECONOMIES

By “X”. Mr H. R. McKenzie recently announced himself as a candidate for one of the northern constituencies as a supporter of the “United Party.” Though he had been previously a “Reformer” lie disagreed with the attitude of Air Coates towards Mr Forbes’ offer of fusion. An “honorary publicist of the Reform Party” writes to an Auckland paper stating: “Air AlacKenzie was never a Reform Party supporter in the true sense. He was a Liberal and though for a short period he associated himself with Reform, he still remained a Liberal and his return to this latter political party is pleasing to the majority of'the Reform Party laymen.” The Reform Party may well pray to be saved from its friends and “honorary publicists.” Everyone who talks or writes politics should at least know that the late Air Alassey claimed to be a “true Liberal,” and that Air Coates was first returned to Parliament as a Liberal and a supporter of Sir Joseph Ward. The fact that the Conservatives who afterwards masqueraded as pseudo-Liberals under the name of Reform really never were what they professed to be, and were merely political opportunists should never be forgotten, hut it is refreshing to be reminded of 4 this fact by a Reform layman

The Minister of Labour in reply to a protest by Mr Holland against the importation of coal for the railways, quoted from returns showing that from September, 1928, till July 1931, there had been 73 disputes resulting in stop-, page of work, and three eases of “go slow.” The total working days lost had been 76,152 and average duration of stoppages 5.9 days. This represented two years of work for 272 men. As specimens of the disputes the Minister quoted a case where 280 men wer out of work eleven days over a dispute between two unions as to which union the dues from three men should be paid. There were numerous occasions where a mine had been idle on a because owing to poor attendance at a union meeting on a Sunday, a stopwork meeting was called next day. The secretary of a union had declared that the miners were not going to change their tactics no matter what was the’ condition of the industry. It may be true as Mr Holland retorted that many mines have been working short time through lack of orders. But that is a result which might have been anticipated when as the Minister states — “there is something radically wrong with the leadership of the miners and nobody can depend on the continuity of supply of coal.” It is much easier to lose trade than to regain it. If a butcher or a baker lets his customers down when they require imeat or bread "lie will lose them'.' The cokl supply is even more vitally important. At present large reserve stocks have to be held by the vitally essential industries, and 1 transport and lighting s-rvk.es, he. cause at the whim of the miners supplies can be suddenly cut off. This position, is of course, intolerable and while it continues there is bound to be importation of coal—and unem-

ployment in the mines. In the strike at Barcelona brought about by Communists, women were not i only conspicuous in tile. fighting, but I the strikers wives determined to strike themselves against their husbands declaring that no further meals would be provided for those refusing to return to work. The Syndicalist leaders called off the strike. The revolt in Chili in which some 700 persons at least have been killed was, the authorities declare, traced to Moscow whence were provided funds for Communist propaganda. For distributing a pamphlet headed “Revolt” the literary secretary of the Auckland Communist Party, a Swedish labourer, described by the Magistrate, Mr Hunt, as a “foreigner with a British name” was sent to gaol for three months. After reading passages from the pamphlet Mr Hunt said: “It could liave no other effect than to encourage lawlessness. The Government was doing its best to put the country right, and these people were doing, their best to onpose it. There were troubles enough without having foreigners distributing such literature.” The defence set up by accused counsel was that there was nothing serious in the paper except that it wanted to overthrow the capitalistic system, and ther e was nothing in that. This admission was rather naive. Of course tlie're is really nothing which should he taken seriously in the nonsense about the abolition of the capitalist system. Every person, who possesses anything of value is potentially at least a capitalist and to do away with capitalism it would be necessary to do away with private ownership of property. This would hardly appeal to the responsible section of the community, but it suffices for the mob orator, and just now when poverty and distress are prevalent in ou,r midist the activities of these gentry require checking. /11l Note should be taken of the'f fact that a lecturer. in economics at Canterbury College says we have nothing to fear from so-jcalled Moscow propaganda as our people are intelligent, decent individuals who are not likely to he carried away bv revolutionary idea's. Had the • lecturer left it at that no exception need have been taken as it was merely an expression of ooinion as to the general mentality of New Zealanders which may or may n 't be correct. But unfortunately be proceeds further, and states that Thus/.in is being transformed,,from an, illiterate nation into an educated people, and the methods jvere in many cases along very up to ; date lines. This is a dangerous half-truth. The education in Russia is on Communist lines, and the

'effect aimed at is to achieve the objects dakl down by Earl Siare which are based on dangerous economic fallacies, and which could only be attained by the oomplete destruction of our present civilisation, and by world-wide revolution and bloodshed. There is no question that Communist propaganda is a very real source of danger, not only in New Zealand but in all parts oi the world at present. The changes taking place in Russia are certainly of importance and well worth careful investigation, but any Apology for the Bolshevik regime should hardly be expected from a lecturer in economics at one of our leading universities.

The political situation ha.s no doubt rendered it absolutely necessary that there should be a temporary coalition between the Conservative! and Liberal parties. The budget musfibe balanced, and the finances of the country adjusted to the conditions which have arisen. There is a striking similarity between what has occurred in 'Great Britain and in New Zealand. The responsible elements must get together just now to solve the world wide problems of the day. The differences between Conservative and Liberal_4>ave for the time being been laid aside. Coalitions have in the post.,*, proved weak and ineffective. Let us hope that the present will prove an exception. The disaster which has. overtaken those countries which have allowed thq irresponsible elements to assume responsibility should be an object lesSon. It is probable the deplorable conditions in N.S.W. have sufficed to ■ convince our politicians that this is no time for the organisation of party political cam-. paigns. l There was at tegst a danger of the exporineees of oUr Australian neighbours being repeated here and as a" consequence pressure has been brought to bear to force the “United” and the “Reform” parties to sink for. a time their differences. The position will 4 not probably, however, he permanently stabilised until we have again' in New Zealand a Liberal party of sufficient strength to cany out, without Tear or favor the policy instituted by Sir George Grey, Ballance, Seddon, Ward, and the great Liberals of. the past.