DOUGLAS CREDIT AND ALBERTA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22350, 22 February 1936, Page 17

DOUGLAS CREDIT AND ALBERTA

Sir, —In view of the repeated statements which have appeared in the press during the past few weeks as to the failure of Social Credit in Alberta, followed by a recent press cablegram that Social Credit was about to be introduced into Alberta by means of a Governmental Regulation, we would ask you in a spirit of " fair play " to publish the reply just received from the Hon. William Aberhart, Premier of Alberta, in answer to a request for his comments on the reports which have from time to time appeared in the New Zealand and Australian newspapers. The Premier of Alberta replies as follows: —" There has been no general demand for the immediate payment of Social Credit dividends. Prior to the general elections, I repeatedly advised the public that at least eighteen months would be required to set up the necessary machinery for Social Credit. There has been no deviation from that statement. Our people are bearing with us patiently while the necessary preliminary work is being completed. Upon taking office, we found the Provincial Treasury empty, and a great deal of our time has been devoted to arranging temporary financial accommodation. We have a refunding scheme under consideration, and are bending every effort to bring it to a successful conclusion, thereby substantially reducing the rate of interest on our Provincial Debt. We have considered it necessary to consolidate our position in this way before proceeding with our major Social Credit programme; there is every evidence that, the people of our province have accepted this procedure as being a very sound one. There is no truth in the story that hundreds of married couples quit their jobs in October, in anticipation of the dividends; nor is there any foundation for the story that a quarrel has developed between Major Douglas and myself." The foregoine; statement should materially assist the public of the Dominion in clearing up the mystery about the reports in circulation that Social Credit in Alberta has failed, when the actual facts show that it has not yet been tried. The Douglas Social Credit Movement of N.Z.