Dear Sir

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 75, 17 May 1946, Page 4

Dear Sir

Letters to -the Editor must be clearly written on one side of the paper only and where a nom-de-plume is used the name of the writer must be included for reference purposes. The Editor reserves the right to amend or withhold any letter or letters.

IS IT DEMOCRACY?

Sir, —A. leading article in one of the recent city papers on Democracy was very true and to the poipt; it was an editional of some consequence but due consideration- must be taken as to whether the National Party would, or any other “party” could, protect the freedom of the people when in power. The editorial states: “Totalitarian Democracy,” a Government, that is, by the Party successful at the polls., with sole regard to the interests of its members and iii defiance of the rights of the defeated—is as real an evil as any other form of totalitarianism. This goes back through previous Governments, and is not Democracy! Is it the same today? Are the vast imposts which burden wealth and. ability the charges of disaster, or are they the instruments of a policy of pauperisation and enslavement of initiative and enterprise? Now while we have a ‘party’ in power we have power politics in the hands of a few, as the money power monopoly is the power that is controlling the present administration of our economic policy. The people think they have something to fight for, but really they are like. Paddy: there is a fight on—lets into it; and they think they have done a great job in getting the other fellow out, when actually they are only playing into the hands of the financial ring. You cannot change the policy without changing the creed, which is “spoils to the victors” under orthodox banking control. When one reads Lord Bruce’s views, particularly on the press and the money power, one realises why our controllers will permit no mention of the successful example of a practical alternative to socialism—the experiment in Alberta. No longer in the experimental stage, this is an example to the world in economic finance.

Yours etc., W. BRADSHAW.