THAT GUERNSEY HALL.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19638, 26 July 1935, Page 9

THAT GUERNSEY HALL.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —It is sheer waste of time to argue will] a person who is capable ; of .writing such a rigmarole as that of ; Mr J. Johnstone in your issue of 'Monday last under the above heading. However, for the benefit of some who may not know the historical facts in this connection it 'is well that his letter should not' go unchallenged, though I have little doubt that Mr j Sykes, with his tusual line logic, will! show up Mr Johnstone’s argument in j all its weakness. ; Points that I should like to emphasise are—1. Guernsey Islanders did obtain many things “for nothing” (the phrase is Mr Johnstone’s). These 'included harbours, roads, schools, etc. 2. These people did not deliberately prefer dealing with banks after getting these things “for nothing." On the contrary, after a bitter light over some six years they were compelled to accept, the dictation of newlyestablished hanks and pay interest on the free issue, which “loan” money forms part of the national debt today. (If Mr Johnstone desires further particulars lie can have them.) 3. The people did not get their market hall or anything else for nothing; they worked for it. Mr Johnstone and others similarly minded, j please note this fact well. The people who get something for nothing arc financiers—the financiers who by writing international loans in their books Lake toil in the form of interest from the community for so doing. 4. An inescapable fact in connection with Guernsey Island, at the period we are dealing with, is that the people were poverty-stricken until the free issue was made, after which they became prosperous. The balance of ,Mr Johnstone’? letter is mere bunkum. How could ho write the tosh about labour and materials toeing available in the island .before the printing of the new money? The fundamental fact is that the people were poverty-stricken and de Lisle Brock’s issue made them prosperous. It is. no use having labour, materials and money if the three pre not brought together in harmonious relationship. It is this same fundamental that we have to deal with to-day. The only sensible sentence in Mr Johnstone’s .whole letter is that in which he says that “money is merely a convenience to facilitate the exchange of commodities.” Had he stopped at that there might have been some hope for him, but he gdes on to j state that it “has no influence on the wealth and prosperity of mankind." If war broke out to-morrow money | would be poured out and we should i all become comparatively prosperous. S No one, not even Mr Johnstone, would stop to ask the silly question which is always put to social reformers, “But where is the money to come from?” | We are agreed that “money is merely' a convenience for facilitating the exchange of commodities,” and because of this currency reformers dosire to j free this essential to our well-being! jj from the hands of mpnopoly, to stop I S the gambling in this essentia],' and to j j see fhat this essential is made avail- | able to all honest people who, desire j ! to exchange their goods and services ! I without let or hindrance.—l am, etc.,! I DIGGER. j ! Matamata, July 22, 1935. Ik