Anderton break

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 14

Anderton break

Sir, —One of the several reasons that Sydenham M.P. Jim Anderton has given for resigning from the fourth Labour Government is his fear that foreign capital in New Zealand is threatening our “sovereignty and our role as an independent nation State.” Mr Anderton may now be looking at forming a third party to offer New Zealanders 'an alternative to this sell-3ut. What he fails to acknowledge is that there is already a third party which has for more than 30 years had an economic policy which would insulate our country against such a take-over by foreign capital. The Democratic Party, formerly Socred, advocates policies which would allow the formation of community banking facilities where profits from lending could be returned to ■ the local community without creating more debt. It is debt which enslaves us to foreign interests. How vulnerable we are under the present system is graphically illustrated in Phil Young’s book, “Save Our Democracy — The New Zealand Story,” published by Sovereign Press in Hamilton. It should be compulsory reading for anyone of voting age.—Yours, etc., HEATHER SMITH. April 19, 1989.

Sir, — Jim Anderton, M.P. is to form a new party. Somewhere in all this is something bordering on justice. It is all so comically ironic and smacks of farce. Mr Anderton was on the Electoral Law Select Committee studying the Royal Commission’s recommendation to hold a referendum to decide on proportional representation; not, I suggest, as an objective member but as someone who vehemently opposed P.R. Social Credit is a third party. In its heyday it took 20 per cent of the vote (1981), never winning more than two seats. Bob Jones’s party took 12 per cent of the vote (1984), winning no seats. Under P.R. Social Credit would have won 20 per cent of the seats and Bob Jones 12 per cent of the seats. Even with 40 per cent plus of the votes, would anyone like to lay money on how many seats the Jim Anderton party will win; and will it form a coalition with the National Party? — Yours, etc., L. J. ROBINSON. April 19, 1989.