REAL DEMOCRACY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32315, 17 September 1943, Page 3

REAL DEMOCRACY

PROPOSALS OF MOVEMENT economic security ADDRESS GIVEN AT TURUA Stating that party politics were futile and that New Zealand needed a new Government, with new ideas, Mr R. G. Young, of the Real Democracy Movement, addressed a gathering of electors in the Turua Hall recently. The speaker was introduced by/the chairman, Mr A. Sutton, who stated that Mr Young was chairman of the Taupiri Drainage and River Board, a member of the Waikato County Council and Central Waikato Power Board, a Justice of the Peace and a member ef the Returned Services’ Association. Claiming that the Labour Party was discredited in the eyes of the people, Mr Young said that while the majority of the electors would not vote National they were prepared to accept another party, such as the Real Democracy Movement. “The Real Democracy Movement is convinced,” continued the speaker, “that the continued frustration of Democracy is due to a faulty economic system. It aims to develop a political means of providing economic security in freedom for all the people of New Zealand.”

Stating that other parties, when given power, would not have the knowledge to carry out such a complete reformation of the financial system, Mr Young said that members of Real Democracy Movement had passed written tests on their knowledge of economics.

Some of the fundamental changes proposed by the Real Democracy Movement were:—

(1) Reform of the financial system to make what is physically possible and desirable in New Zealand financially possible. (2) The equation of purchasingpower with the retail selling price of consumable goods and services.

(3) All money required in future by the Government and local bodies for the general development of the Dominion in accordance with our physical resources will be issued debt and interest free by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand only.

(4) To ensure that the trading banks will not pursue an inflationary policy arising out of the increased issue of the nation’s credit, power will be taken to vary their legal reserves with the Reserve Bank.

Some of the objects of the Real Democracy Movement were the abolition of the sales tax, replacing it with a 10 per cent, discount on all consumer goods, the abolition of the present National and Social Security tax; also male and female levy, without reducing existing benefits; an increase of existing Social Security benefits; a condition whereby all sections and opinions of the Dominion shall have reasonable access to the radio; also the freedom of the Press to publish the truth. Right of Recall “We believe,” said Mr Young, “that democracy functions best with the closest control by the people of their representatives; therefore, we support the right of recall. Parliamentary representatives are merely servants of the electors. If an elected .member fails to carry out his promises to his electorate, then his elect-

ors have the right to throw him out and elect a new member.”

Money—the vehicle of distribution —had become a private monopoly—dealt in as a commodity. The fundamental reforms proposed by the Real

Democracy Movement would restore the ownership of money and the control of the financial policy to the people.

In conclusion, Mr Young thanked his audience for the patient hearing. On the motion of the chairman, the speaker was accorded a vote of thanks,

which was carried by acclaim tion.