ABOLITION OF POVERTY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 4747, 17 September 1935, Page 4

ABOLITION OF POVERTY.

(To the Editor). Sir,—lf you will permit me, I will endeavour to correct an impression created both by the report on the above in Thursday's "Chronicle" and als6 through the position the article, following two political letters, one signed "John Bull," the other an erroneous and foolish letter on Mr. Penniket's views signed "Spectator." In passing, I might state that I consider both should have been signed "Bull.-" Although I am in favour of a national dividend, I am definitely not in favour of turning the Council Chamber into a political arena, as your article suggests, without giving full details. A bundle of literature amongst which there was a petition to His Majesty, was submitted to the Council for its consideration. Before any explanation was given about the petition, to correct any likely impression, I stated that although a large number of Douglas Credit people had signed the petition, the Douglas Credit movement had nothing to do with the petition being brought forward. It was being sent to different organisations in all parts of the Empire. An extract from one of the circulars issued by an oversea movement was read instead of the following explanation that was attached to the petition: "The aim of the League for the Abolition of Poverty, of which branches have been formed in Australia and New Zealand, with strong committees representing all classes of the community, and particularly the churches, is to_ get ten million signatures in the British Empire and present to the King in December of this year of his Silver Jubilee." Briefly, the petition is to the effect that because of. the extreme and widespread poverty existing side by side with such abundance of real wealth so often destroyed and restricted, and believing that the purpose of an economic and financial system is the distribution of the products of industry and the ready interchange of services for the common good, we petition the King to exercise his Royal Prerogative (under Magna Charta), by commanding the Privy Council to make such adjustments to the financial system as may be recommended by a judicial commission set up for the purpose. The petition o'nly asks that a full and open inquiry be made into the causes of the economic depression, with certain safeguards to prevent possibly interested parties from sitting on that commission. It also asks that

there shall be examined as witnesses representatives of those monetary reform organisations who advocate the national dividend, and the equating of production with consumption by means of the price discount. Those v/ho sign the petition are in no way committed to any scheme or school of thought connected with monetary reform. Cr. Mackersey, after hearing what was on the oversea pamphlet that had nothing to do with the petition, moved that the letter be received. I considered this was not courteous to a well-meaning gentleman who, although not belonging to any particular monetary reform movement, had the interest of the public at heart sufficiently to solicit the aid of the Council. I therefore moved an amendment that was reported correctly. The amendment on being put to the Council, Crs. Douglas, Dobson, Sparks and Johnson voted for, and Crs. Mackersey, Hetet, Rundle, and the Mayor voted against. The Mayor then gave his casting vote against it. Cr. Mackersey's motion was put and carried by the Mayor's casting vote. No mention should therefore have been made in the Council about voting for any particular candidate for Parliament.—l am, etc., G. B. JOHNSON.