STATE AND PEOPLE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23259, 21 July 1945, Page 2

STATE AND PEOPLE

Sir.---The "Outlook's'' article used as an advertisement by tire Associated Chambers of Commerce disclaims all concern with the political aspect ot bank nationalisation. It stresses and deals entirely with what it terms a glib expression centring round the word "give,” and blar.dh states: “The doctrine tha' the State is the people is pure Fascism—the philosophy of Hitler and Mussolini"—and why not Lenin? How much "give" was there in Fascism or Nazism? Was it not a constant taking from expropriation. Hitler sacks Dr. Schacht and puts Dr. Funk in the Reich Bank. Did he give the bank to the people, or was it used exclusively at his will? A will subject to a popular vote? Did he buy out? "The State is not the people." Placed in just a position: "Are tne people the State?"—what does it look like? A soldier settler of the last war in common with many comrades, when rent reduction or remission, mortgage reduction or cancellation were considered I was told “it would not. be fair to the State.” As a Crown chattel it was clear my position as mortgagor differed vastly from that of the mortgagee, whether, a corporation, an "Outlook editor,” or a chairman of Associated Banks or Chambers of Commerce. Closed on and sold up. unless the year of Sabbaths has freed me, I am still liable to a demand to “declare my position.” On the three-quarter century mark of life it seems my discharge will be when "ashes to ashes" is pronounced, and I am incorporated in the State.—l am. etc., T. Powell.