SOCIAL CREDIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22300, 24 December 1935, Page 14

SOCIAL CREDIT

ALBERTA LOSING FAITH MR. ABERHART'S PROBLEMS ANOTHER ELECTION PREDICTED [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] VANCOUVER, Dec. 4 Signs are multiplying that the people of Alberta are losing faith in social credit, and advocates of this, the strangest panacea the depression produced in Canada. Enthusiasm began to wane after the Premier, Mr. Aberhart, made bis first visit to Ottawa, where his talk of colossal finance resulted in securing a loan of only 1,000,000 dollars, with the reservation n-rlded to it by the Finance Minister, Mr. Dunning, that it was granted on the same basis as loans for relief to other provinces. Recent municipal elections in Alberta's largest cities, Edmonton and Calgary, bear testimony to the return to reason. In Calgary, nine out of 10 social credit candidates suffered defeat. In the election for Mayor, which was the most effective test of that amazing doctrine since the Government was elected, Andrew Davison was re-elected with a majority of 3000 votes over the social credit nominee. In Edmonton, where "Fighting Joe" Clarke, an opponent of* social credit, was strongly entrenched, the Aberhart Party did not put up a candidate. Both are .fellow-countrymen of the founder of social credit. Premier's Latest Demand Mr. Aberhart continues to make tactical blunders. To date eight senior officials of the Government, who opposed his doctrines, have been dismissed. The price of liquor has been increased, although elsewhere in Canada a sharp reduction is expected, following the reduction by 50 per cent of the duty —to apply also to the rest of the Empire—in the reciprocity treaty with the United States. But the quaintest of all Mr. Aberhart's thepries is his latest. In a recent Sunday night broadcast from his Prophetic Bible Institute, he said he would demand "the return to Alberta of moneys predecessors of the Mackenzie King Government had taken from the province." He was referring to the period of 20 years, during which the natural resources of Alberta were administered at Ottawa, and for which a payment has already been made, in accordance with the finding of a Federal Royal Commission. Varying estimates place Mr. Aberhart's demand at £80,000,000. Question of Legislation The social credit Premier says he will also ask the Dominion Government to guarantee his proposed non-compulsory conversion of Alberta's consolidated debt of £30,000,000 to save £600,000 a year interest. Neither the Premiers' Conference nor the Dominion Government is expected to associate itself with the proposal unless social credit is dropped from public policy. More especially is this so, as Mr. Aberhart pronoses to increase the income tax to an abnormal rate, with the supertax commencing at £4OO a year. In addition, he intends to ask the Dominion to collect the tax on behalf of Alberta. The Alberta Legislature will meet in the new year. Before it meets, the Social Credit Party will hold a caucus to decide on what legislation will be submitted. It is not vet known whether social credit will bo the subject of legislation. If, as is anticipated, the Premiers institute a Federal Loan Council, the prospect of enabling legislation being introduced is regarded as remote. In fact, the Alberta Liberal leader, Mr. Howson, says ho docs not believe social credit will ever be introduced. Outside the Bible Institute, the opposition is steadily growing. With Mr. Dunning sitting tightly on tho lid of the Federal Treasury, there is a rude awakening in store for tho zealous religious reformer. Already a provincial general election is being forecast for next year, with disillusionment in its train.