VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 9

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

VIEWS ON CURRENT TOPICS IS THERE A DOUGLAS PLAN? LACK OF PRACTICAL PROPOSALS. (To the Editor). Sir, —For about two years an organised campaign has been at work in New land in favour of Douglas Credit, pie newspapers have been flooded with letters which repeat “ad nauseam’ the same arguments and the meaning of such words as “money,” "credit,” “purchasing power" and what not Certain sayings taken from their context are quoted again and again, and the xame charges of inferior mentality, or definite dishonesty of purpose, are made and remade against any who venture to differ with a Douglas disciple. And. so the game goes round in a circle, which gets us nowhere. Its supporters claim that when put into practice this theory will abolish poverty, replace hard work with ample leisure, and even end war. Its critics are invited to prove these claims to be wrong, which is somewhat ridiculous because, so far, there has been no attempt to show bow. the theory or system is to be put into practice. Is it not time for Douglasites. to let the public know exactly how it is proposed to work this scheme in New Zealand? That is the only way in which its merits can be judged satisfactorily. If there is. no practical scheme in existence 3 the seemingly endless newspaper correspondence is not only useless, but mischievous, because its apparent object is to destroy the public confidence in the British banking system. To do this without having a workable alternative to replace that system would result in a catastrophe involving all but the very rich.—We are, etc., N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. J Wellington, March 21. FLOGGING AS A DETERRENT. (To the Editor). Sir,—ln a letter from \ the Howard; League recently published in your paper an obvious mis-statement appeared, and we are indebted to a correspondent for' bringing it to our notice. In quoting a New Zealand' example of the fact that to flog a man does not prevent' him from repeating the crime we stated, “Mr. Justice Fair, meeting again jn court l with a man whom he had sentenced to the lash some years ago for robbery with violence, had to convict him again for the same offence within three months of his release from prison.” ■ . ■ - . ' Obviously Mr. Justice Fair, whose, appointment dates from June, 1934, should pot have been cited as giving the original sentence, which had been given by another member of the judiciary.- He did, however, comment on the fact that the prisoner had been flogged previously for the'same offence. We would stress again that flogging does not deter a man from repeating a crime.—l. am, etc., C. L. GILLIES, Chairman, New Zealand Howard League for Penal Reform. • ' , .■' ■’■' • '■ .. '' - Auckland, March 22. FLOOD RELIEF FUND. (To the Editor). • . .Sir,—As a. contributorto the Flood Relief Fund opened in your columns recently I should. like to know Mr. Gilmour’s reasons for his statement at the time of the appeal. Relying on Mr. Gil- ■ hibur’s personal statement as published in your paper I contributed to the fupd, believing the appeal ,to be genuine and the need an urgent one, whereas according to the Welfare Officer’s report as published in yesterday’s issue no such ..need exists.—l am, etc.,. "■ amurl New Plymouth, March 22<- •