REAL DEMOCRACY

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22151, 24 September 1943, Page 6

REAL DEMOCRACY

MR YOUNG’S PLATFORM PLEDGES TO PEOPLE ONLY '* My hands are not tied behind my back by a prior pledge to Lome political party. I want you to realise fully that I am a free man,” said Mr R. G. Young, Real Democracy candidate for Hauraki, in his closing addresses of the campaign. “ The only pledges I give are to you people alone. The broadcasting of Parliamentary debates has fully shown the folly of party politics, and the mediocre mental calibre of the personnel of the present House. Members are generally referred to in the most scathing terms as contemptible ‘yes-men,’ whose only oncem is the welfare of their political skins.’* After justifying the candidature of members of the Real Democracy Movement Mr Young explained that it was not claimed that monetary reform of itself would provide the cure for all the nation’s troubles. “ But we do say that it is the first fundamental step that must be taken before we can commence on the many other reforms which cry aloud for attention.” Resources Available There should be no artificial financial bar to progress for the physical resources in men and materials were available within the country or were procurable. The Movement aimed at equation of the purchasing power in the hands of the people with the retail price of goods and services. At present there was a very large gap between the retail selling price of goods and services and the money in the hands of the community. The whole financial system needed overhauling and wrongs corrected. The candidate explained how modern money was created and cancelled, giving various illustrations and comparisons, and then said all money required in future by the Government and local bodies for the general development of the Dominion in accordance with the physical resources would be issued debt and interest free by the Reserve Bank only. '* Today we are slaves to the debt system, our Government a mere cypher, completely satisfied to play the role of debt collectors to the owners of the present financial system, reducing our people to apathy and despondency, their faith in politicians completely gone,” said Mr Young. Taxation To Be Revised

Mr Young suggests the abolition of the present sales tax of 20 per cent discount on the range of consent discount on the range of consumer goods. The granting of the 10 per cent discount would be conditional on the retail trade agreeing to a fixed rate of profit, not a fixed price. The object of these proposals was to lower the cost of living to all the people. “ Now we come to the abolition of the present national social security tax, also levies without reducing benefits,” said Mr Young. “On £4 a week you would save 10s a week and so on, up the scale. Can you afford to turn down these savings? We propose an increase of social security benefits. You all know that the 30s a week granted to pensioners in 1935 is worth no more than £l m buying power today.” War Risk Insurance The Independents proposed the complete abolition of the present special war insurance which Mr Young said was merely a tax “racket” quite inadequate for its purpose. They proposed an endowment scheme to cover all children up to 16 years of age. If New Zealand was to be held it must have population, and the finest stock it could have was its own New Zealand bom children reared in comfort and security. It was also proposed that the dangerous weakness in the country’s internal economy whereby the farmers had received different treatment to other sections of the community should be remedied. The farmers’ reward had always been fixed on London prices. When prices fell in London the people were told that to help the farmers it was necessary to slash wages three times, with disastrous results to the country. Instead of helping the farmers position deteriorated rapidly into chaos, where decent people were reduced to starvation in the midst of plenty. It was through the country’s export trade that the overseas financial interests had such a big say in the country’s internal economy reducing all New Zealand Governments to mere cyphers—yes men. To make the wage standards of the workers of New Zealand perfectly safe it was necessary to close this line of attack by treating the farmer in the same way as any other section of the community. That was, pay him a price which covered all his costs on the 40-hour week award wages, the same as in industry, plus reasonable profits for himself. This, of course, envisaged a total departure from overseas prices. No Rise in Local Price Such an action did not involve an increase in local prices to the consumer. It could easily be achieved by scientific use of State money and it would not 'n any way interfere with New Zealand’s overseas trade. In fact, n would assist the external position because farmers would be encouraged instead of discouraged from increasing production. The country’s surplus production would be sold overseas for the best price as it was today. The Independents proposed a revision of the education system with free education from the kindergarten to the university, a free university course, with adequate financial allowances for those who qualified in an entrance examination or other specified test. Everyone was aware that the children of poor parents had not been able to take advantage of higher education without very serious sacrifices which were entirely unnecessary today. This serious nation loss must cease. The Independents believed that it •was the desire of the people that all sections and opinions in the Dominion should have reasonable access to the radio. Very many people considered that the regimentation of thought which was taking place today was most dangerous to the welfare cf the country.