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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9060, 8 April 1908, Page 4

The English Prass tea ns with articles upon Socialistic movements of the present day. Some writers uphold the movement and laud it to the skies; others dread of the results that, according to them, must accrue from triumphant Socialism; some scout the idea of it ever becoming a prime factor in politics,, and others again think that Socialism, as advocated by a large and growing section of the community, is something that- must be immediately combated it it is not to gain a dangerous footing in the land. The latest British contribution before us upon the subject is from the pen of the well-known Socialistic journalist, Mr Robert Blatchford. He writes,: —"Look at the cities, look at the rural districts, look at the men and women and the children in the streets; read the newspapers and the official statistics of poverty, of crime, of insanity, and disease. Is this the best we can do? Is it not desirable to do better? Our rulers have failed to cure the ills from which we suffer. They do not pretend that they can cure those ills. They say it is impossible. The Socialists say that it is not impossible." Mr, Blatchford proceeds to say that the question is not whether Socialism will be a faultless form of society, but whether it will be an improvement upon a system which many people regard as faulty. He contends that a city will be better than a great capital, and that the people will be cleaner, healthier, happier, and better than the people of London ( to-day There is evidently a long battle before the Socialists and antiSocialists. Probably those who are now taking part in the warfare will not live long enough to see any definite result.