The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1918 SOCIALISM v. LABOUR

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 347, 22 January 1918, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1918 SOCIALISM v. LABOUR

11 We nothing extenuate, nor. let down auaht in malice. 1 '

The war has been responsible in England for a demonstration of divergence in the ideals of the Socialists and of the Labour party. The Socialists are largely cosmopolitan in their views, and regard the passionate devotion of national aims which inspires most men to-day as entirely out-of-date. In their anxiety to initiate a society on a new basis, where capital shall be owned by the State and the directors of industry shall be elected in the same way as members of Parliament, they would terminate the war by negotiation at the earliest opportunity, and trust to the new regime to remove the incitements to war which have hitherto existed. On this question, lioweveif, Labour holds very decided views, and of a very different nature to those of the Socialists. Labour holds that Germany provoked the war, and does not take refuge in the statement that it is a capitalists' war. Labour holds the primitive and honourable idea that such action as Germany's towards Belgium is criminal. The moial sense of Labour is in revolt against the methods by which Germany lias canied on war; it bitterly resents the submarine cruelties, and the dropping ot bombs on open towns. It will have no dealings with such people until they are defeated. It is this wide divergence of views that creates unrest in the Labour party, where the leaders do not express the views of the members, and this it is that makes Mr Henderson unwilling to leave the country. The speech which Mr Lloyd George recently made to the Trade Union delegates was on the occasion of. asking their support for the policy of further drafts on man power, and they have accepted the position and accord it their support. At the same time the only move- j ment towards pacificism comes I from men who owe their position | to the votes of those who are as ; resolved to see the war through ; as any class in the community, i The position of the Socialists is J as illogical as could well be im-. ngined, and reminds one of John j

Blight's <lid u m " That the worst of great thinkers is that they so often think wrong-" Many of the views which thr Socialist holds most firmly would be impossible of attainment if a peace were made with Germany at the present time. The Socialist is opposed to militarism in every aspect, he hates conscription, he objects to protection and economic boycotts, and he hopes for a world in which wealth and all it represents will be more plentiful and more fairly divided. Yet a negotiated peace would prevent any of these objects being attained, for it is as certain as anything can well be that such a peace would be followed by another war. The expectation of such a war would make conscription permanent, would cause immense expenditure on military preparations, would lead to economic boycotts, and would impoverish all classes alike. If the Socialist could have his way he would bring about a position in which whatever else might happen Socialism at least would be sure to disappear.