Social Credit Criticism Of Loss Of Liberties

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28897, 18 May 1959, Page 7

Social Credit Criticism Of Loss Of Liberties

WELLINGTON, May 17. “Almost every Act passed at the last session of Parliament was aimed at decreasing the liberty of the subject and increasing the powers of Government,” said the leader of the New Zealand Social Credit Political League (Mr W. B. Owen) in his address to the annual conference of the league, in Wellington, according to a supplied statement. “Those who believe Labour’s election promises, as well as those who did not believe them, now know that they were not honestly based, neither were they practical,” he told the 150 delegates and observers from all parts of the country. With the possible exception of “National and Labour Party fanatics, the people are dismayed, apprehensive and bewildered." As was predicted, the election of a Labour Government “has only, got us out of the frying pan into the fire.” delegates were told. “Worse than high taxation is the accelerated advance of political socialism,” he said. “Nearly every citizen feels the increasing impact of Government in his daily life.” Industry as usual was the chief victim. “The Trade Practices Act goes far beyond its intended purpose and makes it possible to ‘hamstring’ any industry.” Mr Owen said. The change of Government had brought no refief from the everrising cost of living. Prices were up about 6 per cent, and were still rising. “Social Credit predicted this because neither Labour nor National

(keu> Zealana Press Association)

had any election plans to attack this problem at its source,” Mr Owen said.

“The present system whereby money comes into existence as a debt with its perpetual compounding costs is the. ‘fly in the ointment, and until its character is changed from a debt to a credit system, prices will continue to rise and savings will be robbed of their value.”