Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-13
lRx G. S.

Recently it has become a popular
pastime among leaders of the Non
! partisan league to point to certain
| conditions existing in New Zealand as
! prototypes of that Utopia which it is
the alleged intention of Mr.. Townley
and his coterie to establish-frst in
North Dakota and later on in other
for communism carried to Its ex-
IRENE.
Naturally, there must be some rea-
made between North Dakota and
New Zealand:
In the first place, the population is
about the same in both common
wealths. AS far as New Zealand is
concerned, this refers merely to the
white population. not to the Maori
natives, and it will be seen by ven a
superficial analysis that the whites of
New Zealand are pioneers-and colon
lists in practically the same sense as
are the farmers of the Flickertail
state. Here is, admittedly, a point of
contact which proves interesting.
In the second place, the history of
both North Dakota and New. Zealand
is SO young and SO -replete with. polit-
icali rf~nexperience that it Is easy to
find similarities here. too. An impor-
tant fact to bear in mind is. however,
the attitude of the men who are in
terested in drawing comparisons, for
a biased study, Of economic condi-
wholly negligible; in this respect,
care has been taken to present a pic
ture Of only one phase of New Zea-
land conditions-aN. others have. been
left in utter darkness because to
throw light upon them all might re-
fleet unp%leasantly on. and to the dis
advantage of, Mr.. Townley and his
league. Therefore. only what suits
the purpose has been allowed to be-
come known here.
Mills Is . Reason. =
A third reason for making very
frequent illusions to New Zealand is
Walter Thomas Mills, the diminutive
TownIey expert in applied Socialism.
New Zealand is a hobby with Mr..
Mills, inc Is Mr.. Mills is Mr.. Town
ley's particular hobby, it is quite easy
to see the connection.
Walter Thomas Mills has the unen-
viable distinction Of having organic
ed the first Syndicalist strike in New
Zealand: He introduced Bolshevism
there before even Russia knew what
it was, and for a time had the posi-
ltion Of general organizer OF the radio
oAS VI 2NCW ACoAa4Aus. 49, -|f.. .L.
While fenthroned in the Antipodes,
Mr.. Mills made : attempts to bring
about the establishment Of a number
Of so-called reforms but pretty
soon it was realized that the spirit
and the methods Of his enterprises
were not in harmony with the ideas
Of people who thought and reasoned
before they drew conclusions, SO Mr..
Mills practically lost OUT
During then star chamber proceed
inss in the caIeus of the last session
Of the North Dakota legislature Mr..
Mills was a conspicuous figure. and 1t
was really during that period that
New Zealand gained fame in this
state. "They have done SO in. New
Zealand the affable Mr.. Mills would
say stroking bis a~ristocratic looking
whtskers-"they have done SO over
there-why can't we /" a@,
In short, New Zealand was pictur-
ed as a political and social Ell Dora
do. and there was but little tendency
and inclination to examine the state
ments made about conditions prevail
ing there. When MI. Mills said SO
and so-why, then 1t must be as he
asserted-for had he not been there?
Az It Is d matter Of record that Mr..
Mills actually has been in New Zea-
land. that point is readily conceded.
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