LABOR AND SOCIALISM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2225, 24 June 1908, Page 1

LABOR AND SOCIALISM.

The London correspondent of the “Evening Post” writes:—-A “rapprochement” has been effected between the two wings of the -Labor party which may have far-reaching effects. There is the Labor party proper and the Trade-union group with Liberal leanings, and for a long.time the two divisions have not been “playing speaks.” This, the Labor party felt, not only weakened them, but left them open to the derision of the sceptics. However, the terms of union between the two groups have now received the sanction of the Trade-union -group. These terms provide that there should be a monthly meeting of the Trade-union group, but there shall be united action on Labor questions, and that there shall be no opposition by one group to a member or candidate of another group. Tile approval of the terms af fusion was subject to one condition, the character, of which is not yet known.

The Labor party, it must be remembered, is coquetting -with the (Socialists; so that if the threefold merger conics about we shall have the novel spectacle of a party composed of the old-fashioned and Conservativelyinclined Trades-unionists, the Labor-

ites, and the Socialists. And nobody doubts that if this comes about tho Socialist tail will, not- bo content until it wags at tho .end of tho Laborit.o and Trades-union head. Rut men of backbone, like Richard Roll, M.P., of tho railway servants, insist o u standing out-. Socialism and -Labor differ even as to old-ago pensions, and it will be difficult to satisfy tho demands of the Labor leaders. They will not bo content with a moderate beginning. Mr Ramsay Macdonald, of the Labor party, wants at onco an expenditure of twelve or fifteen million pounds, with the view of absorbing as soon as possible another twelve or thirteen millions. Mr. Snowden, t-lio Socialist M.P., declares that ho will not bo content with any scheme which does not begin to give tho'pensions nt 05 years of ago, and ho estimates, but inaccurately, the cost of such a proposal at sixteen bullions. His colleague, tho member for Leicester, moro correctly puts it nt from _ twenty to twenty-five millions, nnd.it is much moro likely that it. will amount to thirty 'millions sterling.. It is well known, moreover, that the Labor party regards a five shilling pension as onlv a beginning, and that- as soon ns it inis been obtained they will begin to = agitate for an increase. While it is evidbiit't-hafc.aiiy scheme proposed by the .Govorntiiont-inusit bo capable of* (leveidj)iiient-v-'-it' 'otvgii'F surely to grow simply*as the wealth and population of the country increase.