THE INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 February 1920, Page 2

THE INDUSTRIAL TROUBLES.

To the Editor. Sir,—Permit me, through the medium of your columns, to give expression to my views upon the prevailing economic and industrial troubles which confront us. In leading articles appearing in the various newspapers throughout the Dominion great -attacks have been launched against Bolshevism and Socialism, but before we can decide as to whether the system of Soviet Government at present in force Iri Russia be beneficial or detrimental we must first take into consideration the rapid growth of the Bolshevik element, it is undoubtedly very mysterious how our newspapers told us twelve months ago that Bolshevism had been completely defeated, and to-day we read that these defeated revolutionaries have driven Koltchak, Denikin and Yudenitch into the sea. Apparently the propelling power behind such obviously falsified cablegrams is pounds, shillings and pence, and no sune thinking man or woman can help but see clearly that, wMle the population of Russia is 130,000,000, a few thousand Bolsheviks, such as we are told, could paralyse industry to such an extent. The people who work in Russia have at last delivered their attack upon-the idle landowners and non-pro-ducers, and surely this is tho reason why the spread of Bolshevism is viewed by the Press with such alarm In this country. In your issue of Tuesday, January 20, a very forcible letter ha 3 been written by a Mr. P. F. Baill, who has hardly gone far enough in order to give full benefit to the line of thought he adopts. Wo of the* Labor Party are not pr-vared to say that. If we are put into power, mistakes will not be made, but we do provide the necessary machinery in our platform for the right of recall, and thereby give the people an opportunity of expelling the political diplomat. fti Russia precisely the same happened when the workers took over the various industries, but they very soon rectified the errors by recalling the leaders at fault, and now, according to cable news, are in a position to export very large Quantities of grain and dairy produce all over the world. Sir Thomas McKenzie, according to cable news, was very much impressed with the close cultivation in Prance, and this, Sir, seems to me to be due to the superior system of land tenure in that country. When Labor speaks of nationalisation it does not also talk of confiscation, but wishes to - put into effect a system which will end the present land monopoly and land speculation. The National Government would have done well to nationalise the whole of the land and estate agencies, as then the present exorbitant prices may 'have been avoided. Instead of this, we find our returned men who desire to settle on the land paying commission to the land agent, who merely introduces them to the vendors. What has the land agent done that he should be entitled to receive such large sums? The land agents cannot be blamed for taking full advantage of the systemi which permits this, but if Government were for the people, of the people, and by the people, then it would very soon create a political machine to prevent this. If an amicable and satisfactory settlement is to be brought about between worker and master it is only to be done by the complete overthrow of, and total disregard for, vested Interests.—l am, etc., LEO SIM. Hurford Road, January 31.