FASCIST STATE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 462, 2 July 1937, Page 3

FASCIST STATE

CONDITIONS IN N.Z. Traveller’s View “I have seen Fascism in Italy, Nazism in Germany, and Communism in Russia, and it appears to me that the New Zealand Government is working more along Fascist lines,” sai»d Mr. D. Gars-den Fowler, a representaitive of an English firm who is l travelling in New Zealand (states the Christchurch “Press”). He said that, peopleapplied the terms Socialist and Communist to the Government, but it u.ppeared 1 to him that it l had rather the characteristics of Fascism.

“‘For one thing, the Government is intensely loyal, as no Communist Government could be.” he said. “Lt is thoroughly nationalistic in itf policy, and wishes to exploit all private enterprise for the Sltate. I challenge any member of the. Government to tell me what, is the difference between Fascism and the Labour party —except that there is no dictator: New Zealanders would not stand for that.”

Mr. Fowler added, however, that he considered Fascism a- much better system than Communism. His impression of New Zealand!, however, was that there was a great deal of uncertainty for the manufacturer, and more so for the farmer. It seemed in some cases that the taxes on farmers were so high that they were running their farms for the State. Mr. Fowler, who is a New Zealander, went to Russia in 1931 to give instruction in running the butter industry in 'the Ukraine. He found

conditions there in a very unsa.tis’factory state, food very difficult to obtain except by tourists with foreign currency, and a gentral suppression of all freedom of speech. He said that conditions might have improved since then, but he foun'd that people seemed much freer under Fascist rule in Italy.