PLUMP AND PLAIN

Evening Star, Issue 22450, 22 September 1936, Page 4

PLUMP AND PLAIN

LABOUR STANDS FOR SOCIALISM SPENDING POWER INCREASED BY £23,000,000 REBUFF FOR SOCIAL CREDIT DEPUTATION [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 21. . Demanding a declaration of the ultimate aim of the Labour Government, a, deputation from the Social Credit League waited on the Minister of Labour (Mr H. T. Armstrong) to-day. Mr F. Whiley, spokesman for the deputation, said that they felt uneasy at present, particularly regarding the taxation policy of the Government. They urged that the Government should consider the introduction of a debt-free money system as part of its policy. During the election campaign the use of the slogans “ The Country’s Credit ’’ and “ Monetary Reform ” had caused some people to think that the Labour Party would reform the monetary system of the country, but an orthodox system was still being used. As a result the people who had supported the Labour Party had a feeling that they had been “ left in the air.” “It would help us greatly if you would tell us what is the ultimate aim of the Labour Government,” Mr Whiley concluded. The Minister, after hearing other speakers, said; “The object of the Labour Party is Socialism. Is it yours? ” The deputation in chorus aaidf “No.” “ Then we disagree on fundamental principles,” replied Mr Armstrong. “ I have believed in Socialism since I was a boy. I see no reason change my views.” A Voice: That is a long time ago. Mr Armstrong: When you are as old as I am and when you have had a little more experience of the world you will believe in the philosophy of Socialism, too. Later, Mr Armstrong informed the deputation that if he was a member of the Social Credit movement he would not be so uneasy about New Zealand as he would be about the state of Alberta. Members of the deputation countered this suggestion by saying that it was too early yet_ to judge the results in Alberta. Social credit had not been fully tested. “ Nor has Socialism been fully tried in New Zealand yet,” returned Mr Armstrong. He continued by saying that the Government was moving in the direction of reform. It had taken control of_ the_ Reserve Bank, and under the legislation it had power to use that institution in any way it pleased. “ There is no more money in New Zealand to-day than there was before we took office,” said the Minister, “ yet in nine months we have brought about a state of prosperity. You see it everywhere you look. The spending power of the people has been increased by about £23,000,000, and that money is changing hands every week.” Members of the deputation tried to induce the Minister to make a favourable declaration on the subject of debtfree credit, but Mr Armstrong urged the deputation not to make a fetish of that idea.