To Socialise N.Z.; Machine Ready, Says Professor Algie

Northern Advocate, 28 July 1938, Page 8

To Socialise N.Z.; Machine Ready , Says Professor Algie

Over COO Whangavoi people las! night turned out under the worst possible weather conditions to hear an address given by Professor K. M. Algie. organiser of the Auckland Provincial Freedom Association, in the Town Hall. As Mr T. Mitchell, who presided, commented at the close, their compliment to the speaker was not misplaced. A small section of the audience maintained a running stream of interjections for the first half hour or so, but. keeping steadily to his points, which he presented with scrupulous fairness, the Professor gained their attention with fact and quick repartee. There was good humour on both sides, anything of an unpleasant nature being noticeably absent. The aims of the association were quoted by the speaker to be the awakening of an interest in political problems and a spreading of the realisation that the freedom which the people of New Zealand were enjoying was in danger of being taken from them unless it was maintained by a reasonable and proper method. Early Barrage. “Look at the record of the Labour Government ” the Professor began. “Yes, three cheers for them,” an early twitterer got in. The cheers were lightly given. “Yes. there is much in their record that warrants those cheers,” the Professor retorted. He was proceeding to quote from a speech made recently by Mr Semple, when a voice challenged: “Incorrect!” The Professor, with a smile: “You’re here to let me talk to you.” Another voice: “If you talk right.” The Professor: “All I’ve said yet is to quote from a speech by Mr Semple.”

. One of the objects of the Freedom Association, the speaker said, was to raise the standard of political life in New Zealand so that it would be an honour and credit to be associated with Parliament. A voice: Vote Labour. Professor Algie: I will tell you why I will not. The interjector; Because you are too well paid in your present job. Professor Algie: If I joined the Labour Party I would get better pay. All Mr Savage’s big mdn are receiving I more than I am. Perhaps you think that if I joined the Labour Party I would have more scope for raising the standard of our politics. Training for Parliament. Before joining a company as a shareholder, the man in the street wanted to know something about the directors. Was running the country so easy that men should be put into office with little political experience? How many of the present Cabinet would be chosen by members of the audience as trustees of their personal estates? Frofessor Algie said that he had worked out a scheme for training young people in the political field. Judgment, ability and character were what was required, and progress would be sound and safe so long as it was made under trained leadership. New Zealand was rapidly heading towards Socialism with the handing over to the Ministers and Government of more and more power, which should remain in the hands of the people. The practice of legislation by Order-in-Council. used largely by the I previous Administration, and increased | by the present Government, was par- - ticularly objectionable. Communism and Christianity. j Communism and Christianity were J as far apart as the poles. One was j founded on intolerance and hate, and ■ the other on goodwill. The pity of it was that we had not found how to practise Christianity as h should be practised during the past 2000 years. ‘Now, let’s get back to our own country,” Professor Algie continued. A broad Scotch voice That's good. Professor Algie: Yes. it’s a nice- feeling. Have you been out hero long ” (Laughter). So much progress had been made in increasing wages and shortening hours that the Prime Minister had recently been able to boast that totalisator figures had gone up 30 per cent.; it could have been added that beer duty had j increased to a similar extent. Reserve Bank Figures, Diccusisng the Reserve Bank, the j Professor said that it was fundamental that the British citizen had the right | to control the public purse. He could j do this at election time, or when the

Government asked him to lend the money or pay more taxes. In 1932. Mr Lang, Labour Premier of New South Wales, had left an unequalled legacy of debt and unemployment. He had failed miserably because he could not gel the money. The people would not lend to his Government and had been taxed to capacity. Profiting by the experience of others. New Zealand Labour had passed the . Reserve Bank Amendment Act, a provision of which was that the directors should be appointed by the Government and carry out the financial policy as directed to them from time to time by the Minister of Finance. “While currency should never

j be under the complete control of j private enterprise, at the same | time it should never be under the | complete control of one political party,’ Professor Algie maintained, advocating the constitution of an impartial board of governors appointed in the same manner as Judges of the Supreme Court, What happened when Governments controlled money for political pur--1 poses was shown in Germany, where the results of inflation had been disastrous. Machinery for Socialism. Dealing with the wide powers vested in the Bureau of Industry, Professor Algie said that already on the Statute BObk there was existing legislation sufficient to socialise all production, distribution and exchange, provided Labour was returned and given an opportunity to carry out its policy. The ideal of the Freedom Association was to make democracy effective and respected. After the election, it was proposed to: (1) Form a gigantic electors association; (2) Criticise any legislation, whether introduced by Labour or the Nationalists; (3) bring the mind of the younger men to bear on politics. Sound Progress Wanted.

“We don’t want to go back to the static condition of Tory conservatism,” the professor said. “Progress is possible within the framework of capitalism and without regimentation. Our young people must learn to believe as implicitly in democracy, as I know from my personal observations that the young people of Italy and Germany believe in Fascism and Nazism.” At the conclusion of the address, a vote of thanks and appreciation was extended to Professor Algie, with acclamation.