PARTY POLITICS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 227, 24 September 1943, Page 6

PARTY POLITICS

INDEPENDENT'S ATTACK

DEMOCRACY IS INEFFECTIVE'

The claim that under the party system the people were denied effective democratic powers was the keynote of addresses delivered by Mr. C. P. Belton (Independent, Roskill) and Aircraftman T. E. Somerville (Real Democracy Movement, Onehunga) at Epsom last evening. Mr. F. D. Danks presided. Mr. Belton strongly criticised the Government's action in denying the Real Democracy Movement access to the radio. No other group had been similarly treated and it was obvious that the Government disapproved of democracy for any but "party hacks." He stated that he was the only Roskill candidate who had signed a pledge to serve the electors and not, a party. National and Labour were both splitting the vote, because, while each had had the opportunity to introduce preferential voting, neither had done so. "The first thing the returned soldier finds on coming home is a social security levy book," said-the candidate. "Mr. Fraser has said nothing is too good for the returned man. . Emphasis is on the nothing In 1939 external aggression was on the march; in 1943 it is internal aggression. Our first job must be to smash the money power and the vicious party system. Deeds not promises are wanted for returned soldiers and civilians." Aircraftman Somerville contended that war was inevitable while the orthodox financial system held sway Irresponsible private control of credit had caused untold human misery. It was possible for the Allies to have a military victory yet suffer social defeat owing to the perpetuation of an economy steeped in debt and enslaved by the monev power. The first necessity was to make what was physically possible imancially possible by issuing "debtfree money," with a progressive decrease in taxation. Both candidates were accorded hearty votes of thanks. """«*