DOUGLAS AND WAITES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22023, 4 August 1933, Page 7

DOUGLAS AND WAITES

TO THE EDITOR. Sjr,—Your correspondent "Eraptor” suggests the study of the Waites report as a means of gaining an understanding lof Douglas. Tills appears to be a somei what curious procedure for, if Mr Waites j is correct, then the whole subject loses its interest. On the other hand, if Major I Douglas is correct, there must be some- ! thing wrong with either Mr Waites'? reasoning or his understanding of Dougi las. This possibility is, to say the least, I too great to justify a study of the Waites | report as an introduction to Douglas. Douglas is not so difficult to follow as j “ Emptor ” would have us believe. Admittedly the four months which the New South Wales statistician gave this subj jeet was not sufficient to ■ make an | authority; but quite a working knowledge of the subject can be obtained in a much shorter time, let alone the years given ' to orthodox economics.

Duo to the fact that the great majority of people are dependent on wages to gain their living, we are faced with the position that more and more must go short because fewer* and fewer are required to produce the needed goods. Major Douglas, like the good engineer he is, treats this condition as a problem to be solved, isolates the cause, and suggests a remedy. Unfortunately he can hardly make himself heard above the noise of his critics saying “It isn't so; it’s not understandable; and it can’t be done.” We have, however, learnt that those who say anything can’t be done are usually interrupted by someone doing it. —I am, etc., Dunedin. August 3. A. G. M.