LABOUR AND COMMUNISM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22985, 14 September 1936, Page 11

LABOUR AND COMMUNISM

CO L'HF EDITOR Sir,—A discussion of the economic effects of the legislation to which we are being subjected has its uses, but it is in reality of very little importance. The question that confronts the whole world to-day is peace or war. The whole world is called upon to decide whether it will aim at settling not only its international problems by means of war, but also its internal political problems. To ignore this great issue in politics to-day is to emulate Nero, who fiddled while Rome was burning. The political issue to-day is not the measures the Government is introducing, but the aim which it has in view. Mr Semple fires a shot at the Communists in order to keep public suspicion lulled to sleep. If our Government is not Communistic in aim, why does it model its behaviour on that of the Soviet and Fascist dictators? Why is it that in its policy it is easy to trace the spirit of destruction exhibited in the Communist manifesto? Why is it that the measures it introduces can be traced quite easily to the teachings to be found there? Look at what we have! Legislation that aims at the destruction of the value of private. capital; increased costs of manufacture, with an attempt to forbid any increase in price: a graduated land tax that cannot possibly serve any useful social or economic aim. These are Communist methods. In addition, there are the regimenting of the whole community, except capitalists, into trades unions; the taking of every jjfep possible to create in the unions a belief in the iniquity of their employers; the call to stick together—the c£y of “ Labour right or wrong, but Labour ”! —the assumption of the direct control of radio broadcasting, to be used, presumably, for Labour'Party propaganda so soon as it is safe to do so; party propaganda at the expense of the public purse in the Railway Magazine: the reference to ministers as our rulers! These are methods common in both Soviet Communists and Fascists. Why is it that members of Parliament, at the present time, are distributing stamped post cards, one of which I enclose, addressed tc Mr Savage, asking the Government to minimise military training in New Zealand? —To keep the State defenceless. The whole programme of the Government, whatever be the virtue of

its legislation, reeks of the aims and spirit of Communism. The Communists lay it down that the Government must have absolute control of international trade in. order to preserve tl« revolution. Our Government is obviously aiming at that. All the constitutional safeguards against disruptive forces within society are being abolished and whittled away. This is ali in accord with Communist aims and methods. All this is being done when the whole world is threatened with civil war. The aims of the Communists are openly published in terms which + hose who know can understand but which seem harmless and honest to the.uninitiated. In addition, statements such as Mr Semple’s about Communists are made in order to put the general public off the scent. This is the Communist method.—l am, etc., Peace, Not Revolution.