The Daily News. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1922. LABOR’S MANIFESTO.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1922, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1922. LABOR’S MANIFESTO.

The electioneering manifesto issued by the Labor Socialists is a notable exhibition of the art of camouflage, so devised as even to evoke admiration of the skill whereby the real aims of extreme Labor are effectually concealed by generalities that are evidently calculated to enlist the sympathy of those who neithei- pause to think nor trouble to make themselves acquainted with facts. Among the many grievances that are part of the stock-in-trade of “Official” Labor is the “almost unanimous hostility of the Press of the Dominion in opposing and misrepresenting the ease for Labor.” This admission is most significant, for it denotes the existence of a unanimity of opinion adverse to Labor’s objective that reflects the views of the great bulk of the people on that subject, otherwise the policy of the Press would not be what it is. Towards the close of the manifesto it is stated:—

“The Labor Party affirms that the workers of the world (why not the 1.W.W.?) will never be free until the twin scourges of war and capitalism have Ibeen driven from the earth, and a new system inaugurated in which Social Service shall be the foundation, co-operation the means, freedom, truth and equity (all in capital letters) the governing factors in the mutual dealings of men and of nations.”

Being devoid of patriotism, it is only symptomatic that war should be regarded by Socialists as a scourge to be exorcised so that they may escape being branded as shirkers. In coupling capitalism with war these whirlwind elements of destruction affirm and deny in the same breath. They would eliminate the kind of war that takes toll on humanity, but they would glory in taking part in warring against capital and revelling in the fruits of victory. Their new system is to be founded on “Social Service.” That means the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange ; the nationalisation of all industries, the controlling power being the one big union through a. Council of Action that can paralyse trade, commerce and production, and become superior to constitutional government. Cooperation is to be the means whereby this dominance is to be obtained, all the unions being linked up with one supreme tyrannical authority—the Alliance of Labor —whose fiats must be obeyed without question; in fact, substituting Soviet rule for constitutional government, as at present. One big Union in the field of industry, and one big Party in the field of polities. Last, but by no means least, the governing factors of the Labor Party are claimed to be “freedom, truth and equity.” The mere mention of freedom in connection with the Alliance of Labor is a gross misuse of a term that is a glorious heritage of every Britisher. Evidently the kind of freedom that : finds a place in Labor’s programme is a mechanically hatched species, closely related to slavery. As to “truth,” the manifesto referred to is a striking example of Labor’s convenient conception of truth, the real objective being kept out of sight or camouflaged, with no other object than to capture the votes of those who are content to sacrifice their heritage for a mess of pottage, and have their chains of servitude knit up into ornamental festoons. What about the factor of equity? A total disregard of the interests of all classes except those belonging to Unions; the confiscation of land; the abolition of personal rights in economic affairs; stirring up class hatred; flouting the law, and the flourishing of the Red Flag. Its creed is that of revolutionary Socialism and Qommunism; its freedom is dictatorship travestied, and its equity is nothing but disguised selfishness in its vjorst form. There are a number

of other points in the manifesto that, if space permitted, could be touched upon so as to show their real meaning, but enough has been said to give an insight into the aims of the party, whose purpose is grandiloquently described as “to unite all the peoples of the world into a Federation for organising the resources of the world for the benefit of the workers of the world.” If that is not Sovietism.then it. is so closely allied to it that, the line of demarcation is not discoverable. We cannot warn the electors too strongly against being influenced by such camouflaged aims as are set forth in Labor’s manifesto.