THE "NEW" POLITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22539, 2 October 1936, Page 15

THE "NEW" POLITICS

Sir, —Mr. B. Beckerleg is wrong in his interpretation of our letter. The idea being so strongly urged by the Douglas Credit people is that, in order to get some objective, we have only to order the politicians to give it to us, and they must do so. The objective instanced is "to abolish poverty." Wo argued, and continue to do so, that il the objective is impossible of realisation, then it cannot be given to us, however much no demand it. The reply is that "it is possible" so we say that the electors should be told what method is proposed, so that they can have it investigated. But we are told that "the method does not concern electors at all," whereas the league holds that the method and its practicability is the acid test. Now, Mr. Beckerlog interprets this as saying that the league does not approve of politicians being asked to carry out their election promises. Ho is wrong,that was not what we said at all, but that the electors should not be persuaded to ask the politicians to promise to carry out certain demands unless they were practicable. A very different thing I Wo again assert that any monkeying with our monetary system, which proved a failure, would bring disaster on everyone. Mr. Beckerleg retorts by saying there were mistakes in our monetary system in the past which have led to ruin. Even if this were true, it entirely supports our contention; but we would remind him that our monetary system does enable us to carry on the multitudinous and complicated transactions of international trade, it may not be perfect, but it works. Does he argue that the electors should order its abolition without asking for details of the system which is to take its place? N.Z. Welfare League.