SOCIAL CREDIT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 284, 30 November 1944, Page 3

SOCIAL CREDIT

ALBERTA'S PROGRESS

POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION

"The Alberta Government was the only provincial body in Canada to present to the Special Parliamentary Committee a definite plan for the financing of post-war reconstruction without increasing either the public debt or taxation," said Mr P D. Danks, in an address in the Lewis Eady Hall last evening on progress in Aberta during the social credit regime. The meeting, which was sponsored by the Real Democracy Movement, and attended by about 300, was presided over by the Mavor Mr. Allum. '

The Alberta Government, said Mr. Danks, had taken definite steps to prepare for the problems of the post-war period. Ex-servicemen were to be given the right to occupy land free of debt. Farming land was to be tax-free for three years, and thereafter one-eighth of crop returns would pay all administration costs and taxes. It. was provided that the title would be granted free after 10 years. In the case of those producing grain no allocation for* repayment purposes was to be made on the first five bushels per acre. Surveys had been made to determine the quality of soil on land for soldier settlement. A sum of 2,000 - 000 dollars due by returnee* soldiers from the last war was wiped off enabling many to ' make a fresh start.

"On August 8 Alberta rejoiced over an economic and political victory for social credit principles," said Mr. Danks, in mentioning that 90 per cent of the electors of the province had returned the Government with 54 out of GO seats. That in itself, he continued, indicated the progress made.

Reviewing the record of administration under the present Government, he said that since taking office in 1935 it had reduced the public debt by 42,000,000 dollars. In 1905 there was no public debt, but the average increase until 1921 was 6,500,000 dollars. In the succeeding 15 years the average debt increase totalled 4,500,000 dollars, and an average decrease .of 2,500,000 dollars was recorded in the 1936-43 period, making, in spite of the war, a total reduction in public debt of 17,250,000 dollars. Debt-free Public Works Mr. Danks pointed out that since 1936 all public works and road building in Alberta had been carried out without incurring debt or borrowing. The road building programme alone accounted for over 3900 miles, while 5619 bridges had been built in the 1936-43 period. By using "science, machines, men and materials" — money took second place—public works were planned and undertaken on a province-wide basis. In seven months 1600 miles of trans-Alaskan highway had been built for war needs, and this would be Canada's gain after the war. The production of oil had been increased from over 1,000,000 barrels in 1936 to close on 12,000,000 barrels annually, and that represented one of Alberta's war efforts.

Referring to other progress, Mr. Danks said the Alberta Government had assisted farmers to improve their herds and flocks by introducing pedigree animals. Alberta had the largest tuberculosis-free area in the British Empire, due to an organised campaign. There had been progressive labour legislation, the workers receiving fair wages. Monopolies were controlled by allowing a fair margin of profit. Other progressive steps included marketing control, free public health ins\irances, increases in age benefits with a reduction in qualifying time, and a model schooling system. Teachers' salary arrears amounting to 304,600 dollars in 1936 had been paid and in June last there were no arrears.

"Social credit cannot be fully implemented in Alberta until there is complete control of the credit and currency of the country by a national board," the speaker concluded.