LABOR AND SOCIALISM.

A CHAMPION OF THE LABOUR PARTY.

SIR WILLIAM LYNE CRITICISES MR.REID.

A CALL TO THE PROTECTIONISTS.

Sir William Lyne is very indignant at what he is pleased to term Mr. Reid's audacity, in venturing to hoodwink the public into the belief that freetraders and protectionists are everywhere combining with a view to the destruction of the Labour party's socialistic aspirations. In conversation with a "Herald"' representative he said that one must be indeed blind who could not see that the so called anti-socialistic organisation was practically the old fighting section of the free trade party. Mr. Reid would find that he was very much mistaken if he imagined that the protectionists of New South Wales would enrol themselves under his banner. It ought to be plain to everybody that he was simply using the socialistic bogey in the hope of securing a following which would eventually enable him to carry into effect a freetrade policy.

"But," remarked the interviewer, "Mr. Reid has undertaken to sink the fiscal question, realising the grave evils that would flow from the reign of socialism."

"Sink it!" exclaimed Sir William. "Yes, for the present. We all know that from the very outset of his political career he has attacked the protectionists, and attempted to ridicule their ideals, and if he had had his way the evils that he worked in this State would have been intensified in the larger sphere of Federal politics. Through the influence of his party we have now a mongrel tariff satisfactory to neither side, and a tariff which must be adjusted at the earliest possible moment. In his present campaign, he is really excelling himself as an adept in the art of misrepresentation, but those who know him best are absolutely certain that beneath all his brave talk about the awful dangers of socialism there is the one set purpose to stick the dagger into the back of protection, and at the earliest possible moment sweep away the tariff altogether. Protectionists have fought an uphill fight; they have made considerable progress; and it is hardly likely that they are going to give up the fruits of their strenuous efforts at the invitation of Mr. Reid simply to allow him and his followers to retain office, and at the first opportunity give effect to their real designs. Mr. Reid's so-called anti-socialistic campaign is nothing more nor less than an attempt to down Labour at any price, and the inevitable result will be a widening of the breach between capital and labour that must act injuriously upon the interests of Australia."

"Labour and socialism appear to be synonymous terms. Do you propose to Join Mr. Watson in the fight. Sir William?"

"The socialism of the Labour party is not Mr. Reid's bogey of socialism, which has been manufactured solely for political purposes. Everyone knows that I am a moderate man. I am a believer in individual effort, and with extremists and idealists I have no sympathy. But the socialism of the Labour party is, in my opinion, of a moderate character, and, generally speaking, I cordially approve of it. There can be no doubt that the nationalisation of some monopolies would be in the public interest. For instance, look at the large number of important works now undertaken and carried out by the Government. I am not a Communist, but I certainly am a State socialist, as every true Liberal must be. There are undoubtedly some extremists among the Labour following, but the few cannot be held to represent the whole. Those who rail so loudly against what they are pleased to term socialism should study the recent actions and the present conditions of the London County Council, and they would find that the London people go much further than is suggested here. What we want is a properly organised democratic Liberal party as opposed to the bogus Liberals who now claim the title, but who have been responsible for all the Conservative legislation the country has had."

"Will you say definitely. Sir William, how far you propose to go with the Labour party?"

"You will have gathered from my remarks that, while I do not give a full assent to the Labour platform, I am in sympathy with the general trend of Labour thought as expressed by the more moderate section of the party. Just how far I go is detailed in the agreement arrived at last September between the Labour party and the Liberal Protectionist party. One clause of that agreement provides for 'any legislation, including tariff legislation, shown to be necessary for the development of Australian resources; to preserve, encourage, and benefit Australian industries, primary and secondary; to secure fair conditions of labour for all engaged in every form of industrial enterprise: and to advance their interests and well-being without the distinction of class or social status.'

"I intend," said Sir William, in conclusion, "to follow Mr. Reid at all the centres at which he has spoken, commencing about the middle of next week. Arrangements for the meetings are now being made, and I hope to remind the electors of the Prime Minister's political history, and, while exposing his policy of misrepresentation, to place the true position of affairs fairly, before them."

 smh 22/5/1905