Scotsman Archive
"YOU cannot strengthen the weak if you weaken the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner if you pull the wage-payer down. You cannot help the poor if you destroy the rich. You cannot establish character and courage if you take away the means of initiative and independence. You cannot do for men permanently what they ought to be able to do for themselves." These remarks were made by Lord Westwood, one of the Socialist peers, speaking at the annual dinner of the Scottish Amicable Building Society in Edinburgh, last night. There was ample evidence, he said, "that our people would wish more than ever to have a stake in this country by purchasing their own homes".
Mr W S Allison, managing director, in his reply, said it was impossible to measure the influence of home-ownership in strengthening character and in the diffusion of self-respect and independence. During the last three years, the society had lent 8,600,000 to enable citizens to buy their own homes.
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