CAN BE MADE TO WORK

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32307, 1 September 1943, Page 3

CAN BE MADE TO WORK

MONEY SYSTEM IN PEACE MR S. G. HOLLAND’S VIEW “All over the world the money system has been made, to work for war and it can be made to work for peace,” declared the Leader of the National Party (Mr S. G. Holland) in his opening speech last night, answering the question—“ Where’s the money coming from ” —during his elaboration of the party’s policy. There was a time when human happiness had to conform to a financial formula, but war had shown that finance must conform to the people’s needs. The right of man to human happiness was supreme. The National Party was determined that, as in war so in peace, nothing would be permitted to stand in the way. The time was long since past when money exercised a virtual dictatorship. If Parliament in the early days of the war had been asked to vote £150,090,000 for one year’s war, they would have said it was an impossibility; yet, when needed, the money was found. If money could be found to destroy life and property, it could also be found to preserve life and create prosperity.

The people asked if a country could have debts without want, misery and unemployment. War had taught us, as never before, our capacity to produce. The desire to consume was already there, so all that was needed was the intelligence to organise work •and production.