A DOUGLAS CREDIT DREAM.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20271, 13 August 1937, Page 9

A DOUGLAS CREDIT DREAM.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I dreamed that the Douglasites became such a thorn in the side of the Government that an order was made that they be deported to an island in the Pacific. Great consternation was displayed and a protest forwarded charging the Government with ingratitude Inasmuch as it was mainly by the votes, of the Douglasites that they got on to the Treasury benches, and therefore the Douglasites felt that they had been used much in the same way as the monkey used the cat to get the chestnuts out of the fire.

Protests were unavailing, and with great despatch a ship was loaded containing in its holds large quantities of “machinery,” food and clothes to last a year, supplies of seed wheat, barley, oats, etc.; also a herd of cows and plough horses. Altogether 300 Douglasites were aboard (wives and children to be sent later), and each nun was given £SO in notes and £5 in silver.

The voyage was Interesting. Each day meetings were held on deck to arrange and plan what was to be done on landing. Socialism was banned, each man having the right to work otit Hi-* own career in his own way. Duties according to ability were allotted. One man was given charge of the dairy herd, and he promptly asked if the cows were to be milked by hand or machines. This started a heated discussion, members pointing out that “machinery” would merely “cause unemployment”; but it was finally agreed to because the cowman 6aid he was “darned if he would milk by hand when there was a machine to do it.” Anothor argument arose when the chairman said it would be necessary to appoint a bank manager. ‘Stone the crows I” said one chap. “Wasn’t it the banks that ruined New Zealand?” The chairman pointed out that a bank was necessary in order to issue credit notes to enable members to be paid the wages of the “machine.” At this Juncture one chap pulled out his roll of notes and observed that the blessed things were worth only lid each, whereupon I offered to give him 3d apiece for them, but he gave me only an ugly look and promptly returned the notes to his pocket. A lovely morning dawned as the ship drew near to the island. All hands scanned the shore. Rolling hills and fertile valleys, with areas of magnificent forest, greeted the eye; hut as we drew close to shore I saw that ragwort and blackberry were rampant, and I said to myself: “These fellows will have their work cut out.” While tlie ship was unloading 1 strolled inland, wondering io myself just how Douglas Credit was going to work. Would there lie "high wages” and short hours, or “low wages” and long hours? and pondering thus i rounded a cliff, and to my astonishment,, high up on a face of rock, was carved these words: “Moot ling, or die.” I finally concluded that Hie inscription imrst have been carved by the ancient Lemarians. At this Juncture I awoke. My disappointment was indeed bitter, so e.agerlv was I looking forward to n real tin-lack Douglas Credit experiment. I should like the Douglnshes lo complete the picture over a live year plan nml tell me: Did the hogs root . r die?—l am, etc.. W. I*. KENAH. Raglan, August to.