MAJOR DOUGLAS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 240, 10 October 1934, Page 11

MAJOR DOUGLAS.

'ENGAGEMENTS' IN U.S.

INVITED TO WHITE HOUSE?

DENIAL FROM WASHINGTON,

iß.v Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this tiny. The fact that the United States Government and President Roosevelt disclaimed all knowledge of an alleged invitation extended to Major Douglas to visit the United States and confer with tlicm after his recent visit to New Zealand was revealed in the House of Representatives last night, when Mr. C. H. Clinkard (Government, Rotorua) was discussing the report of the Monetary Committee. It was shown that Mr. John Shaw, of the head ollice of the Bank of New Zealand, had sent the following letter to Mr. J. A. Naash, chairman of the Monetary Committee: "Mr. Rushworth, during his examination of "Mr. Fussell, made reference to Majpr Douglas' important overseas engagements, and asked the following surprising questions: 'Do you know that those engagements were with Governments and Legislatures in the United States and Canada, and that one of the most pressing reasons was that he had been urged to call upon President Roosevelt in Washington as soon as possible?' A copy of those questions was forwarded through 'the United States Consul for New Zealand to the Department of State in Washington, for the purpose of verifying the statements made regarding an appointment with the President and State ollieials, and the following cabled reply has just been received: 'Referring to your cablegram the Department has been informed by White House that no invitation has been extended to Douglas to visit Washington to consult with the President or other high officials of the American Government.' " Invited by a Senator. Subsequently, said Air. Clinkard, Mr. Rushworth had sent the following letter to Air. Nash: "With reference to the letter received by the committee from the Bank of New Zealand relative to Major Douglas' visit to Washington, I have made inquiries and have received the following information: Major Douglas was urged to' visit Washigton by Senator Cutting. On April 22, Major Douglas conferred with Father Coughlan for several hours. Next day he returned to New York by air to deliver his lecture in the new school for social research, after which he again went to Washington. .On the Wednesday he was the guest at luncheon at the Brookings Institute, and afterwards with Senator Cutting, lie met and conferred with a number of people in official circles." The list attached by Mr. Rushworth included the names of Senators Black, Borah, La Follette, Mr. Rainey, Speaker of the House of (Representatives, and other members of the House, and four Administration officials.

DOUGLAS CREDIT. CONVENTION IN JANUARY. NO POLITICS MEANWHILE. Although Douglas Credit candidate; were nominated in the Australian Federal election campaign, it is not the intention of the movement in New Zealand, at' least in the meantime, to "attempt to enter the arena of political controversy." The Douglas Social Credit movement of New Zealand has now-been registered as an incorporated society. The firot meeting of the national council wan held recently in the main centres, the meeting adjourning from one centre to another, in order that the delegates from the incorporated district councils could more conveniently attend and register the desires of their constituent members ill regard to the methods of procedure, future operations, etc. It was decided that a national convention of the movement should be held in January next, at a place to be decided by postal ballot of all delegates to the national council, and that until this convention is held the movement shall be maintained as a purely educative organisation, and not attempt to enter the arena of political controversy. It was also decided that for the time being there shall be no official organ of the movement, but that information will be issued periodically under the authority of the committee of the national council. The headquarters oi the movement are in Wellington.