National Dividend

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 72, 18 December 1935, Page 13

National Dividend

Sir, —In the letter appearing in Tuesday’s “Dominion” signed by Miss Kerr, unfavourable reference was made to Alberta in discussing social credit. I would appreciate your publishing these comments so that the matter may appear in

its true perspective, as mauy of your readers, especially the womenfolk, may not understand the actual position. Alberta is a province in Canada, ju.-U as Wellington or Canterbury is in New Zealand, except that we have no provincial governors. "With its status of a province, and not being a sovereign body like the Federal State of Canada, or New Zealand, it would be practically impossible for a State or Province to set up a special money system, especially if it was not fully approved by the Federal Government and its neighbouring Provinces, because there must be a. regular basis of currency between the States or Provinces under a national Government. The Federal or national Government could do this, however, and it is considered quite possible, where the State is an exporting community. We can imagine the result of such a scheme being introduced in, say, Canterbury or Otago,' if all the other provinces did not approve of it, and being unrecognised by the Government of New Zealand. The Alberta position is very similar, and while it is a great indication of the swing of thought away from orthodox economy, it cannot be compared to'the position in New Zealand, where the Central Government has been authorised by the people to proceed with arranging a new financial system for New Zealand. Whether that should, or will, include a national dividend is not the point I wish to discuss at present, but if it has been possible to pay a bonus of £14,000,000 a year to farmers by indirect taxation, then anything more reasonable is possible. The actual position at Alberta should be understood so as not to confuse our fellow citizens who are interested in a change in the money system.—l am, etc., EQUITY. Wellington, December 17.