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An Open Letter to H.T. Lee

I have been reading in our newspapers over the weekend an account of the activities of a section of present day youth in exposing the true meaning of what the grouping of industrial and financial powers were about under the innocuous sounding title of an Economic Council for the Pacific area; as I suppose happened with most other readers of our newspapers I had assumed that this Economic Council was some appointed representative grouping of the Governments of the various countries involved; I had thought that their business was concerned with exploring possible future economic policy that would co-ordinate the activities of the different countries to ensure some stability in the economic life of the peoples of these regions; that plans would emerge to which we could all give our consent knowing that they would provide for an orderly economic expansion to absorb the probable growth in the work force, both in numbers and in an expanding intelligence and capability; keeping the economy of every country on an even keel to the future welfare and the qualities of life that the peoples could look forward to as their future.

I should have known better. The true objective of such planning is rarely disclosed. We are rarely shown the intention of such power blocks even when taking place under semi-Government auspices, but for once I had been unobservant of what was happening and I am very thankful myself that there was a small body of our youth sufficiently observant to understand the true purpose of what was taking place and the true composition of this "Economic Council" and to take (deliberate) action to expose these powers in such a decisive manner. It is, of course, a deliberate habit of the powers and forces that now control all economic life in every part of the Western World anyway to use "front men"; - generally politicians - to bring into force policies that serve solely the interests of the "powers that be"; and it is also deliberate policy to assume to themselves innocuous sounding title that misleads most people so that these powers can go about their business of planning how to further tighten their controls over the economy of every country and how to refine their methods of "exploitation" so as to perpetuate and expand their more complete control for the future; and if we understood the true meaning of what is happening to our civilisation to-day, it is just this activity of fastening ever tighter controls not only over economic activities but over every facet of the lives of human beings that is the main cause of all the industrial unrest, all the breaking down in social life that is taking place as a direct resulting phenomena of all this pressure, all these strains brought on the individuals looking for some measure of security, some stability for their future.

It is unfortunately true that ordinary citizens of any country rarely give sufficient attention to the activities that are taking place around them; rarely seek to understand what is happening and why. Yet we know that the price of freedom is eternal vigilance and for once a small section of youth have been in the forefront; have been the originators of an exposure that should never have been necessary had our newspapers - and our politicians - kept us fully informed as to what was happening.

I write to you because I have since read a lot of criticism of the actions that were taken and I thought you might appreciate a word of support, but I also write because it is the first time I have observed youth taking a decisive stand on what is truly The fundamental issue of our times — this determination by the "powers that be" to concentrate the ownership and the control over all human economic activity into their own hands under such tight conditions that human beings will shortly be but cogs in the wheels of the one gigantic industrial, commercial and financial octopus that is now in process of being completed; a pyramid of power wherein a few key men will control all human economic activity to their own power - and profit. Knowingly or unknowingly the section of youth that you supported have started to expose the true cause of all the evils with which our present day civilisation is now be-devilled, and if you would build on this and seek to carry your activities to the stage where all youth is knowledgeable of the true powers and forces that are now conditioning the whole of life and living for peoples that are now conditioning the whole of life and living for peoples everywhere and help them to initiate further actions that must force the changes to take place in our economic structure that are now becoming an urgent necessity if our whole civilisation is not to decay and perish in the final stages of this present century; and if I could help by exposing the issues as I see them, then I would be very happy to give time and attention to doing so.

But first a clear understanding of the changes that have been taking place in the New Zealand economy in the short space of the past ten to fifteen years is the basis on which all further reasoning should be based. For myself I would say that ever since we have had a National Government there has been a deliberate policy to open up the whole of the New Zealand economy to exploitation by super powerful international interests; that the lives of all citizens are now opened wide to financial exploitation also, much of it on the lower levels by other New Zealand citizens; but in the areas where it really hurts; international debts at fantastic rates of interest; by deliberate intention of the inner clique of political power working hand in glove with international finance. But in saying this I am not suggesting a Labour Government would do any difference, all politicians these days are tarred with the same brush, all become, once elected, but servants of the "powers that be" on every major policy that affects the life and living of the people - unconsciously perhaps for some, for there is a wealth of very sophisticated propaganda in use today that would convince you that black is white if you allow such propaganda to be dinned into your consciousness by constant repetition; but consciously, I believe, by all the top leadership, the men who meet with the peripathetic salesmen of "vested interests" who now travel the world co-ordinating the policies of every Government so that all follow the same line; all mouth the same propaganda; explanations or excuses as we saw so clearly when Holyoake without any previous briefing suddenly accused all those in opposition to the involvement in the Vietnam war which he had brought about, as being communists or fellow travellers. Yet he knew - as we all knew - that many genuine, honest and God fearing men were in opposition to what he had done and that any label of Communist or fellow traveller was a wicked libel seeking only to discredit the opposition he had aroused.

But to gain a clear understanding of the changes that have been brought about in the New Zealand economy in recent years there are some excellent books available that deal with the facts dispassionately and not in the headlines that sometimes unfortunately come more readily to myself. I have seen reference to Dr. Sutch's recent book and realise that it is known to and has been studied by a section of youth. It may not be so generally known that Dr. Sutch was in a good position to prevent many of the take-overs of recent years and was dismissed from his position by deliberate Government policy that was unprecedented when dealing with a Government servant of long standing and with such a sound record for furthering solely the interests of New Zealand industry. The details can be studied in any of the newspapers of the time. There are a number of excellent books and booklets written by Wolfgang Rosenberg that forecast what would happen to the New Zealand economy if certain policies of the then National Government were brought into effect. "Full Employment"; "Why New Zealand Should Not Join the International Monetary Fund; and his more detailed "A Guidebook to New Zealand's Future"; all give factual details that are true and cannot be disputed; In an earlier period we had John A. Lee who gave a speech in Parliament that was reported world wide and that he subsequently had printed in booklet form entitled "Finance v. Democracy; financing the war without DEBT" or words to that effect; and for an earlier attempt by the "powers that be" to fasten their controls over the New Zealand economy we had a journalist in the 1930's Mr. A.N. Field who also gave much factual data - still available in the original sources through the Turnbull Library - not only of what was happening in and to New Zealand but also how it related to the world scene. "The Truth About the Slump" and "All These Things" are the two most exhaustive studies but he also dealt with the complete reversal of education policy that took place at that time apparently under pressure from "international sources". Changes that have resulted in the product we see today, a large proportion of lawless, selfish individuals who recognise no authority and no responsibility. A major stage in the creation of a selfish mass of humanity, millions of individuals, none with any contact with or thought for their fellow men. Just morons or zombies unable to read, or write or spell or add correctly. Fit only to be cogs in the wheels of the aforementioned gigantic industrial complex that also had its birth at the same period. But enough: I would write you more if you should wish me to but do let me know what you think.