THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1908. THE PREMIER'S "SOCIALISM."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9051, 10 February 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age. MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1908. THE PREMIER'S "SOCIALISM."

Sir Joseph Ward evidently believes in "taking time by the forelock." Clearly "forseeing that he Will have to reckon with the Socialistic Party at the next general election, he, in his speech at Auckland, the other day, attacked Socialism, and endeavoured to show that the Government Party was the only genuine party in existence, and that the workers could not possibly have anything better. Sir Joseph said:—"lndividuals might pursue dream of impossible ideals and no great harm result, but once a majority or a large section of a people gave themselves up to a mad career after Utopias, whether it be revolutionary socialism or any other impossible 'ism,' be certain that anarchy was near, and behind it disaster, suffering and despotism. If revolutionary socialism took possession of us to-morrow it would leave our people maimed amid social wreckage and miles and miles behind our present stage in the path of progress. Unfortunately short cuts to the mil lenium did not exist, ana while they fully recognised social diseases they knew that they must be dealt with—and it was their duty to do so- not fast or slowly, but firmly, and in the

proper season. Time was required for their cure." We may remark, incidentally, that* so- much time appears to be required that the Government's patients are likely to die of old age before being cured of their social diseases. However, to quote again from the speech, the Premier explained that "Their aim as a party was to heip, as far as Government action could, the largest possible number of families to obtain sufficient Jncomes; to increase the security with which those incomes could be relied on, and to protect the purchasing power of those in comes against unfair prices due to rings, monopolies, or legal privileges." Sir Joseph Ward is a very smooth, polished, and plausible speaker, but, apart from fhe beautiful language, and happy similes used by the leader of the Government,, what are the hard, cold facts? What has caused so much rubbish to be talked about Socialism, and what has caused some Socialists to indulge in the wildest language, and revolutionary ideas? Surely the answer mut be that the Labour Party movement to-day has been brought about by theT.Goverament's administration. Of what benefit have the Government been to the masses of the people during the past ten years? The Labour Party, the bulk of them at any rate, —really ask for nothing more than that reasonable efforts shall secure fair wages wages sufficient to provide the necessaries, plainest comforts, and decencies of life. Is it so very much to ask this —"in God's own country." In view of the position of affairs the Labour Party may be excused if they do not accept Sir Joseph Ward's ipse dixit upon the social problems of the Dominion.