REPORTS FROM ALBERTA.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19895, 26 May 1936, Page 11

REPORTS FROM ALBERTA.

"‘ i (To the Editor.) ‘ Sir,———ln a recent issue a corre—, spondent questioned the reliability of; news from the London Press, quoting; the Daily Telegraph. The Times 1 newspaper was also mentioned. 1 The following extracts from the i Times of March ‘23, 1936, regarding, Alberta, together with the facts of the I case, are brilliant examples oi’ garbled t Press news. l The Times states: “The Govern—t ment (Alberta) are reluctantly forcedt to cable to Major Douglas expressing; to him that the ultimatum in his cable ; has precluded the possibility of further negotiations." The report fur-‘ ther states: “.\lr Aberhart ref-used : further comment to—day, but a high! Government authority stated that the : attitude of the caucus and the Gabi- 1 net could be summed up as followszl .\iajor Douglas has lost the confidence i of people who henceforth may hear} his theories propounded either in thei Old Country or in other lands. People , will be forced to the opinion thati .\lajor Douglas is more of a theorist‘ than a practical idealist. This know— I ledge will force them to the opinion} that before the principles of Social: Credit. can be made effective they will I need somone who has the courage of his convictions to make these prin—ciples a reality. This is the problem : Alberta now faces. ’l‘hus ends a con—tract of Major Douglas with Alberta,‘ a contract which began four years ago, ‘ when his theories were first placed , ‘hel'ore the Legislature. Major Doug— i ‘las's ‘ultimaluni,‘ received on Sunday ,evening, intimated that the Governtment must. accept a substitute adviser land also scrap the new taxes." ’ The comments are made by Major Douglas through the Social Credit Secretariat, Ltd., London; therefore they are authentic. Major Douglas states: “The amount of confidence to be placed in the Times news on the situation in Alberta may be judged by reading the despetch (quoted above) in connection with the follow—ing facts: (1) No such cable as that to which reference is alleged to have been made by Mr Aberliart has been received, nor does Major Douglas believe that it has been despatched. (2) No ultimatum has been sent to Mr Aberhart, and no despatch sent by Major Douglas and received in Edmon—ton on Sunday evening made any re—ferences to taxes. (3) Major Douglas had no contact whatever with Alberta four years ago. (4) His relations» with the Social Credit Government of Al—berta are exactly what they have been since his resignation from the position of chief reconstruction adviser to the Government as a protest against the policy pursued under the advice of Mr R.'J. .\lagor."

Major Douglas adds ”that, in his opinion, the publication of an anonymous attack by a ‘high Government authértty,—probably Mr Hagar—in language which can without. difficulty the identified as originating with the Canadian Sankara" Association, re~ .‘lccts much more damagingly on the Times than it does on himself.“ As we in New Zealand are flooded with this type of report from over—seas, the real facts of the case should he brought before the public, on the grounds of British justice and fair play. I regret the length or this letter, but the matter is of great importance to this Dominion at this Juncture.— I am, etc.. MAR-GUS JAMES. Hamilton, May 23,