SOCIALISM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 846, 31 May 1910, Page 3

SOCIALISM.

ADDRESS BY MR R. ROSS. There was only a mere handful present at the Masonic Hall last night, to hear the address on Socialism, delivered by Mr R. Ross, of Glen Oroua, a member of the New Zealand Socialist Party. The Mayor, Mr G. H. Stiles, occupied the chair and briefly introduced the speaker. In opening his address Mr Ross apologised for the absence of Mr R. Plogg, general secretary of the N.Z. Socialist Party, who was billed to deliver the address, but who was unable to be present on account of the illness of his wifeThe speaker, therefore, had taken Mr Hogg’s place and would, to the best of his ability, endeavour to enlighten those present on the aims and objects ot Socialism. He would take as his text for the address "Come, let us reason together.” The vital question was how can a people make the best of a country for themselves ? There were two ways. Individualism and collectivism. The first had been given a trial and, as a result, what do we find ? asked the speaker. We find, he continued, the workers, who created all the wealth, living in poverty, and on the other hand those who did nothing, living in luxury. It was obvious that a system of this nature must be wrong. No doubt this state of affairs was not so marked in a young country like New Zealand as in older countries, but it was only a matter of time and the same conditions would result. In Great Britain there were twelve million people in a perpetual state of semi-starvation. A natural conclusion from such a state of affairs would be that there was not sufficient food for everybody, but this was not so. The wealthy had food in abundance, and wanted as much in a day as would keep a worker for a year. It had been said that if the workers were more industrious the position would be better. But this he denied. If a worker could do four times as much as at present the position would be really worse, as the amount of stuff required for consumption would be produced in a quarter the time as previously taken, and it would necessarily mean that the worker would not be required again until the demand was more than the supply. The reason for this was that the capitalist engaged workers only when he can exploit their labour. Immediately that labour was not payable the capitalist refuses to employ the worker. The speaker said the cause of the periods of depression was that by the aid of machinery the production was greatly in excess of the demand, and the workers were consequently thrown out of employment, their spending power is lessened and depression is the result. The Socialists, recognising the evils, have decided that the present system should be allowed to exist no longer. If suffering was necessary, then those who suffered should be the non-producers, not the creaters of the wealth, as was the case under the present idiotic system. The Socialists suggested the co-operative system, by which everybody should be forced to work in the interests of the community and themselves. Under socialism everybody would be treated alike. He did not blame the individual capitalist, but the conditions under which he was living. He referred to the disclosures brought about in Sinclair's book, “The Jungle,” and contended that under socialism such a state of affairs could not exist, as there would be no advantage ' to be gained by anyone by packing anything that would be harmful to their fellow men. He said that under the present system it was absolutely impossible to carry on business and be honest. Every store sells articles that are fraudulent. This would not be so under socialism, as nothing would be manufactured that was not pure. He said the Cnristiau Church was now rapidly coming over to socialism and were recognising that they could not pretend to be Christian and support the present selfish commercial system, as it was contrary to the teachings of Christ. He contended that it was only under socialism that the present conditions could be altered. Municipalising or nationalisation of everything for the general good of the community. It had been argued that the present conditions could be overcome by the passing of laws. But this was not so. He referred to the Arbitration Act and said that during the time this Act had been in operation, according to Dr. Findlay, the workers as a whole had benefitted to the extent of per cent., but during the time the cost of living had increased 2o l /2 percent., sc that really the workers were two per cent worse off now than before the Act was passed. Legislation had failed to bring about the improved conditions and the only hope for the workers is socialism. He concluded his address by impressing on those present the necessity of discontinuing voting for the capitalistic parties and forming a socialist party.

Mr Stiles moved a vote of thanks to the speaker and referred to the very able manner in which he had handled his subject. He expressed the hope that Mr Hogg would at some future date visit Foxtou and deliver an address on socialism which was a subject on which a great deal could be said. The motion was seconded by Mr Robinson and carried by acclamation.

Mr Ross said that while appreciating the spirit in which the vote of thanks was moved, it was not usual to move in that

direction at a Socialistic address. All Socialists were in the cause for the love of it and they did not expect to go to any place with the idea of getting any reward at all.