NATIONAL DIVIDENDS.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18777, 27 October 1932, Page 11

NATIONAL DIVIDENDS.

THE DOUGLAS PROPOSALS. PROSPERITY BY CONSUMING. S-ome aspects of the “national dividend" were dealt with by Mr R. E. Hansen at the fortnightly meeting of the Hamilton Douglas' Credit Association at Toorak Chambers last evening. Mr T. Collins presided over an increased attendance. Mr Hansen read a letter from the secretary of the Wellington branch or the association which reported progress in connection with the petition to Parliament concerning the demand for a commission on the credit systems at present operating in New Zealand. A deputation to be led by Mr H. M. Rushworth, M.P., would wait on the Prime Minister shortly. The letter also informed the meeting that a new monthly magazine, advooating the Douglas proposals would be published in Auckland in the near future. Taking as the basis for his address, “The Douglas Plan for Scotland," Mr Hansen made out a most convincing case for the national dividend. With the rapid development of labour-sav-ing devloes it was impossible to employ every one in Industry again, he said. Yet the wealth produced must be oonsumed if industry was to survive. In other words consumption must balance production, or the prevailing situation with a glut of goods and services on the one hand and an impoverished population on the other, would grow progressively worse. “The Douglas proposals are the only ones which recognise this fact and deal with the problem scientifically," continued the speaker, “and the national dividend has now become an essential feature of the Douglas plan. By means of a national dividend based on the accumulated wealth of the oommunity, a necessary stimulus will be given to purchasing power which will dear existing stocks and set the wheels of industry in motion again.” The speaker further justified the national dividend as a full and frank admission of that claim on our social heritage to which every member of a community w'as entitled. “Hitherto,” •aid Mr Hansen, “a man had justified his olaim to our cultural inheritance by taking his place in industry. If as the result of labour saving devices there was no longer room in industry for every individual why deprive those displaced of their rightful share of tiie cultural inheritance common to all?" Claim of the Individual. In reply to a question it was pointed out that the claim of the Individual in tiiis matter was already grudgingly admitted. Free education, old age pensions, and the "dole" were all grudging admissions of the justice of the individual’s claim on society simply by reason of his membership in it. What (Continued in next Column.)

Douglas aimed to do was to face the situation squarely, and by means of the national dividend grant to every member of the oommunity, hi 3 share as a matter of right, not having it clothed with the stigma of charity as at present. % The operation of the "Just prloe factor" wmuld guard against the evils of Inflation and as the Douglas plan did not interfere with existing business methods competition would prevent profiteering. Reverting to Scotland the speaker quoted Douglas as saying that a i per cent dividend on the accumulated wealth of that country .would amount to £3OO per family. If a community would consume all that it could produce, even more' striking results might be expected, for the American Bureau of Statistics had assessed the potential capital value of an able bodied American male citizen at no less than £IO,OOO to the nation. “With this as a basis for national dividends from which to stimulate purchasing power, what living standards are not, possible to an industrious community making full use of it? powers of production?” concluded the speaker. After several questions had been asked and answered and a number of new members enrolled the meeting broke up to re-assemble on Monday, November 7, when the subject will be “The Douglas Plan for New Zealand."