THE SOCIAL CREDIT PARTY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 11, 28 January 1937, Page 11

THE SOCIAL CREDIT PARTY

Its Ranks Divided in Alberta EMPTY TREASURY A crisis lias arisen in Alberta wliicb may sweep tlie Premier, Mr. Y/illiam Abarhart, from power, or at least bring a substantial split "within tlie Social credit organisation there. Tlie Government is faced with an empty Treasury, and cannot make a definite engagement to pay tlie long-deferred social diyidends. Ihe Premier visited Ottawa asking for Federal assistance, but obtained none, and during his absence the breach between liimself and tbe LeftWing Party gradually widened. Mr Aberhart went to Vancouver for Christmas, and in that time two Cabinet Ministers, Messrs Manning and Ross, resigned, the former ascribing his action to ill-healtlij and the latt.rrefusing to give any reason except that he felt hiniself cut adrift from the Government's policy. The Leltists promptly tpok advantage of the situation by demanding quick action, which led Mr Aberhart to xetaliate with the annonncement that he intended t® authorise no radical enactments. INSURRECTIONISTS' POLICY It appears that the split will become serious at any moinent, with the possibility that Mr Aberhart will seek assistance from old-tinie Liberals and Conservatives in order to hold the Premiership against his critics within the Social Credit Party itself. Mr. Maynard, handsome young French-Canadian Minister, js- credited vith leading the insurrection, with the boast that he can out Mr Aberhart from the leadership any time he likes. The insurrectionists have called a caucus party, at which the official Planning Committee"* of the Social Credit Party announces a new radical policy will be submitted. The policy emhodies 11 principies, the chief of which will be a proposed issue in Alberta of debt-free inoney which will he -fixed as legal tender throughout the province, and which must be accepted by individuals, merchants and even by hanks doing business witliin the boundaries of Alberta. ' OPPOSES CURRENCY PLAN Mr Aberhart. announced his hostility to this proposal, calling attention to the fact that currency issues under Canadian law must be considered exclusively under Federal control, and deprecating the "compulsory circulation of proposed currency." He says he will adhere to (he standards 'of orthodox financing. The rebels within the ranks propose the formation of a- Government wholesale bureau to handle import and export trade. This bureau would buy wheat, paying Aiberta money for - it, and would self it outside for national currency for use in buying manufactured goods. Aiberta last year issued several hundred thousand dollars' worth of script, but merchants wete not compeiled to accept it, and ' the Government redeemed it. The rebels also propose loans for farmers, free of interest; and montlily dividends of £1 payable in Alberta currency.