第210章

`That's a very simple matter; any man who lives without doing any useful work is living on the labour of others, he is robbing others of part of the result of their labour.The object of Socialism is to stop this robbery, to make it impossible.So no one will be able to hoard up or accumulate the paper money because it will be dated, and will become worthless if it is not spent within a certain time after its issue.As for buying and selling for profit - from whom would they buy? And to whom would they sell?'

`Well, they might buy some of the things the workers didn't want, for less than the workers paid for them, and then they could sell 'em again.'

`They'd have to sell them for less than the price charged at the National Stores, and if you think about it a little you'll see that it would not be very profitable.It would be with the object of preventing any attempts at private trading that the Administration would refuse to pay compensation to private owners in a lump sum.All such compensations would be paid, as I said, in the form of a pension of so much per year.

`Another very effective way to prevent private trading would be to make it a criminal offence against the well-being of the community.

At present many forms of business are illegal unless you take out a licence; under Socialism no one would be allowed to trade without a licence, and no licences would be issued.'

`Wouldn't a man be allowed to save up his money if he wanted to, demanded Slyme with indignation.

`There will be nothing to prevent a man going without some of the things he might have if he is foolish enough to do so, but he would never be able to save up enough to avoid doing his share of useful service.Besides, what need would there be for anyone to save? One's old age would be provided for.No one could ever be out of employment.If one was ill the State hospitals and Medical Service would be free.As for one's children, they would attend the State Free Schools and Colleges and when of age they would enter the State Service, their futures provided for.Can you tell us why anyone would need or wish to save?'

Slyme couldn't.

`Are there any more questions?' demanded Philpot.

`While we are speaking of money,' added Barrington, `I should like to remind you that even under the present system there are many things which cost money to maintain, that we enjoy without having to pay for directly.The public roads and pavements cost money to make and maintain and light.So do the parks, museums and bridges.But they are free to all.Under a Socialist Administration this principle will be extended - in addition to the free services we enjoy now we shall then maintain the trains and railways for the use of the public, free.

And as time goes on, this method of doing business will be adopted in many other directions.'

`I've read somewhere,' said Harlow, `that whenever a Government in any country has started issuing paper money it has always led to bankruptcy.How do you know that the same thing would not happen under a Socialist Administration?'

`'Ear, 'ear,' said Crass.`I was just goin' to say the same thing.'

`If the Government of a country began to issue large amounts of paper money under the present system,' Barrington replied, `it would inevitably lead to bankruptcy, for the simple reason that paper money under the present system - bank-notes, bank drafts, postal orders, cheques or any other form - is merely a printed promise to pay the amount - in gold or silver - on demand or at a certain date.Under the present system if a Government issues more paper money than it possesses gold and silver to redeem, it is of course bankrupt.But the paper money that will be issued under a Socialist Administration will not be a promise to pay in gold or silver on demand or at any time.It will be a promise to supply commodities to the amount specified on the note, and as there could be no dearth of those things there could be no possibility of bankruptcy.'

`I should like to know who's goin' to appoint the hofficers of this 'ere hindustrial harmy,' said the man on the pail.`We don't want to be bullied and chivied and chased about by a lot of sergeants and corporals like a lot of soldiers, you know.'

`'Ear.'ear,' said Crass.`You must 'ave some masters.Someone's got to be in charge of the work.'

`We don't have to put up with any bullying or chivying or chasing now, do we?' said Barrington.`So of course we could not have anything of that sort under Socialism.We could not put up with it at all! Even if it were only for four or five hours a day.Under the present system we have no voice in appointing our masters and overseers and foremen - we have no choice as to what master we shall work under.If our masters do not treat us fairly we have no remedy against them.

Under Socialism it will be different; the workers will be part of the community; the officers or managers and foremen will be the servants of the community, and if any one of these men were to abuse his position he could be promptly removed.As for the details of the organization of the Industrial Army, the difficulty is, again, not so much to devise a way, but to decide which of many ways would be the best, and the perfect way will probably be developed only after experiment and experience.The one thing we have to hold fast to is the fundamental principle of State employment or National service.

Production for use and not for profit.The national organization of industry under democratic control.One way of arranging this business would be for the community to elect a Parliament in much the same way as is done at present.The only persons eligible for election to be veterans of the industrial Army, men and women who had put in their twenty-five years of service.

`This Administrative Body would have control of the different State Departments.There would be a Department of Agriculture, a Department of Railways and so on, each with its minister and staff.