CORRESPONDENCE LABOUR POLITICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 10

CORRESPONDENCE

LABOUR POLITICS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — In your issue of the 19th inst. Mr IT. A.'Dean gives a little of his personal experience on his attempt to become a capitalist, but like niyselt, he had to earn his bread by the sweat ol his brow. He admits that lie is just a “border line” Socialist, because, lie said, much of the Queensland Labour Government legislation was, in his opinion bad and most extreme and then said that the workers in Palmerston North were treated better than the unemployed anywhere else. I am quite pleased, and I am sure the citizens of Palmerston North appreciate the tribute paid to their city also the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs A. E Mansford) who organised a. 100 per cent, efficiency committee which spared nothing to make the lives or thenless fortunate fellow citizens more comfortable. The Government was not just what it should have been, and no Government could have prevented the depression; it was world-wide. Dean stated New Zealand was the worst off. I suggest that lie read Canadian newspapers; he would state differently, and the oldest Dominion (Newfoundland) became a Grown colonv through its inability to meet its obligations. New Zealand always paid i its civil servants; not so in Canada. Tho Canadian civil servants salaries have been as long as three months overdue Every intelligent person in New Zealand is aware that, irrespective of which Government was in office, wo would share in the small.wave of prosperity and the New Zealand public would’ derive more benefit had there been a more prudent Government m of *Mr Dean surelv understands that the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange is merely an attempt to kill and destroy man’s ambition, and philosophy of that nature has “gone west’ wherevei it lias been tried, and is against the teaching of the Greatest Book of the atm—-the Bible. Any person who defies its doctrine does not get very far through life. , , .. As Mr T. Roe has decided to retire so that I may preen my feathers and live in peace for evermore, I Wish to remind him that should I ever decide to leave my web-footed feathered associates, I will have no trouble in locating the rookery. As for AV. r. butler he joins a new society. Firstly, he was a Reformer until something went wrong; then lie became an Independent, until the Palmerston North City Gounoil demolished a few old dwellings on a reserve and converted it into a recreation ground. Mr Cutler somersaulted again, and absorbed the philosophy of tho socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange policy, but he still owes tho Press a debt of gratitude for presenting his correspondence. lam not given to egotism: therefore I refrain from bright publicity and take a seat underneath nom-de-plume. Mr Cutler comments on my “jibe” at the Hon. Al. J Savage and bis associates including the scribe “Vag.” Another dream—it was no jibe. I did so to show the readers of your paper that the successful enterprise carried out bv men such ns the late J. Plimmer, also the late Mr Kirkcaklie and others, was the means of developing the Manawatu district. Ambition of deep thinking men was the means of providing work lor many others who believed and taught the philosophy of the doctrine of the socialisation of the means of production, distribution, and exchange, which has never proved a practical national policy anywhere. 1 also spoke of tho raliwavs collectively, not individually. Mr Cutler was an individualist in that respect, not a Socialist; by changing his political opinions so oiten 1 am afraid lie is like Esau of old, lie has sold his birthright for a mess ol pottage. I appreciate the space yon have given me, and i[ it will only cause people to think lor themselves, to pause, and ponder over recent legislation, and the increased cost in living, it is worth while., As I will be absent for some time, Mr Cutler can have another spell, and think out the name of this nom-de-plume.—l am, etc.. STORMY PETREL.