DOUGLAS CREDIT SYSTEM.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18947, 17 May 1933, Page 9

DOUGLAS CREDIT SYSTEM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The various letters in your paper on the Douglas Social Credit plan are, 1 assure you, causing more comment than any other subject hitherto appearing in your columns. In Saturday’s issue Mr Shakeshaft fires another shot, and I was very pleased to read in the magazine section “Free Lanoe’s" timely advice to correspondents. To all citizens sufficiently interested in the Douglas movement I would suggest closer study of Douglas literature before waiting to a very patient editor. Mr Shakeshaft has , obviously not' read or studied a great deal about the subjeot and his criticism is neither helpful nor constructive. He practically asserts that Mr Magner takes Douglas too seriously. Mr Magner’s enthusiasm is thoroughly in keeping with his sincerity, and we can, I think, forgive him any little outburst, knowing as we do that his interest in new economics is not a selfish one, but a patriotic endeavour to enlighten his fellow-men. What if he cannot answer the questions relating to mushrooms and losses by Are—does this in any way refute Douglasism? Mr Shakeshaft has heard Mr Allardyce, and knows something about Mr Magner, and because neither of these gentlemen can convince him lie assumes “Douglas" is no way out. Neither Mr Allardyce nor Mr Magner are substitutes for “Douglas," and all these two gentlemen ask is that all interested citizens study the subject thoroughly and form their own conclusions. . Toleration is very necessary, and because one finds it difficult to visualise a better world one should not cease to study the New Economics. Mr Shakeshaft’s remarks relating to retirement at the age of 45 are not, lam sorry to say, very sensible. One might equally assert; that if 25 per cent, will benefit our farmers, why not try 50 per cent, and make them prosperous? In my reading of “Douglas" I have yet to find that an early retiring age is essential to the scheme, but economists, both old and new, admit to-day it would be impossible to consume all goods produced should everyone get active and produce as much as possible, so it looks like a necessity to limit our output to equate with our consumption. Of all the advooates of an eoonomic change Douglas is the only man who has given us a whole plan. Plenty of writers and lecturers can tell us why we are in such a muddle, but only Douglas has shown us a way-out. I do not say “the” way out. Critics will always be in the position to ask difficult questions, but, talcing “Douglas" broadly, we have an interesting subject- which exercises the intelligence and will, I am sure, eventually lead the public to demand a change in our credit system. It is not until we are “against the wall,” and have to think for ourselves, that we deem it necessary to study a subject so vitally Interesting to us, both individually and collectively, and although at present some of Douglas’ theorems may be questioned, education and thought will find a way to overcome all objections in due time, but not until wo are ready with helpful criticism and toleration and, vide Abraham Lincoln, “with malice to none and charity to all."—I am, etc., w. r. McLaren. Hamilton, May 15, 1953.