THE SOCIALIST PROGRAMME

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4521, 23 October 1930, Page 4

THE SOCIALIST PROGRAMME

iWhat the Independent Labour Party means by “socialism in our time” is explained by Mr. James Maxton, M.P., writing in the New Leader. “The average of those who are actively participating in politics is somewhere in the forties,” he says. “We believe that before the man. of that age has ended his life a new social order on different foundations from the present, with different principles and ideals, can be established and accepted Iby the people. 'Such a social order must contain no poverty, no fear of insecurity, no tyranny, no ■exploitation. These are all negative factors. Positively, it must contain abundant supplies of the healthy, material things for everyone, freedom to a large extent from long hours of labour devoted to the procuring of material things, a population with a real joy, pride and interest m life, eagerly pursuing knowledge, beauty and happiness, and endeavouring to master more fully the mysteries of the universe. This is, .roughly, to be achieved in a period of 25 years, (blit the man who is 60 now, and has a shorter expectation of life, should see the foundations of that society clearly, demonstrably and undeniably established, and should actually sec in

being the main lines of the new economic structure. This means that, counting from the time when the nation makes up its mind to 'start the building of the Socialist society, five years is a reasonable time in which to make the essential economic changes, and another 20 years would see the full fruits gathered and the new hncntality developed.”