SOCIALISM’S FALLACY

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1004, 21 June 1930, Page 1

SOCIALISM’S FALLACY

REFORM SECRETARY ANSWERS LABOUR ATTACKS PROTECTION OF PARTY The public attacks made upon him by leading members of the Labour Party and the Labour Press have drawn an answer from Mr. A. Ernest Mander. general secretary of the Reform Party. Mr. Mander says he feels that some explanation is due to the Reform Party to avoid the danger of Its being injured by the attacks aimed at him. "The attack was of a purely personal nature, and it related to the fact that at one time I was a member of the Labour Party, for a couple of years after the war,” says Mr. Mander. “I am not in the least ashamed of this. It is a phase through which most young men seem to pass, especially young returned soldiers. One is young, idealistic, and anxious for a short cut to the millenium, such as socialism claims to offer. But as soon as one begins to study realities, one recognises the impossibility and the absurdity of socialistic schemes. In my own case at least, 1 very soon realised the fallacies of socialism and came to recogI nise—what now seems so clear to me—--1 that the system of private enterprise I and the principles of the Reform Party | are most likely to ensure the progress j of our civilisation and to promote the best interests of the people as. a whole. For about seven years before my apI pointment as general secretary I had ! been a keen and active adherent of tliw Reform Party.”