MR SAINSBURY’S “ LEFT-WING.’'

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18903, 24 March 1933, Page 7

MR SAINSBURY’S “ LEFT-WING.’'

■ ■ To the Editor.) Sir, —Douglas Social Credit must cither stand or fall whole, not in parts. There is a philosophy behind the Douglas proposals which reveals every part of those. proposals to be essen-, tial to the achievement of the object in view, which is true economic democracy. Why does Mr Sainsbury want to see the formation of a “ left wing ” in the Social Credit movement? Apart from Douglas Social Credit there are quite a host of credit and currency reform schemes seeking popularity. I would like, therefore, lo suggest that-those who do not And complete satisfaction •in pure Douglasism have Hie option of identifying themselves with whatever oilier currency reform name best suits them. Mr Sainsbury is such a poor “ Douglasile ” himself that 1 cannot conceive of any Douglas Association bestowing oAlcial blessings upon him as a leader of a “ left wing." Some time ago when the Douglas movement was just -beginning to And its feet in New Zealand Mr Sainsbury was one of its -impatient detractors. Even now be makes it quite clear that he lias no faith in its analysis of the Aaw in the costing system, upon which Social Credit as a constructive remedy logically rests. Tills being so, surely it must be that Mr Sainsbury would like lo share some of the popularity, which the Douglas movement is now evidently achieving, without any idea of throwing in loyal weight behind Douglasism as such. He would like to have more attention fastened upon ills own -scheme which, it can' easily be shown, represents but one (in itself entirely inadequate) part of tho Douglas schenio. As bearing very appositely on the above, I would like to quote a passage from a letter recently received, -by me from Mr Arthur Brcnton, editor of “The New Age," of London. The Now Age has stood for 12 years at the heart of Douglas Social Credit journalism, maintaining a comprehensive and closely analytical survey or world happenings and tendencies from the Social Credit standpoint. So cleverly has it disclosed the true factors of' the economic situation that the large British newspapers have not dared to attack it for what, in journalism of lesser merit, would instantly he seized upon as sedition; so that the New Age has simply received the “ cold shoulder.” Mr Brenlon’s letter contains tho following: “It is a difficult tiling to steer a straight course here at present because there are several movements to form bodies whoso policies are, in my opinion, colourable imitations of Douglasism, and unfortunately there are types of Dougla.sit.es who are liable lo bo misled —especially those who have got the notion tint the policy of ‘getting together’ with credit reform bodies in general is a line of advance. I remember Mr Chapman Cohen, the editor of the Freethinker, once remarking lo me that lie had had similar difficulties, and making the humorous comment: ‘ Your soup would bo over so much stronger if you let me put a little water in it.’ This is a very happy retort to those people, who seem to confuse concentration with dilution.”—l am, etc.,

It. K. HANSL’N Oriai, March 22, l'Joh.