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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 28, No. 4. 1965.

Reply: [to Dalglish]

Reply:

Mr. Dalglish seeks to minimise the effect of my Social Credit article by the application of well-directed good humour. It would be a relief (for him) to learn that the article was a joke—in fact it was a sober statement of opinions and facts derived from an overseas Social Credit publication, whose name and source was cited.

The two conspiracy theories were documented, that of the New Zealand Social Crediters from the writings of a respected university professor. The comparison was drawn not by the writer, but by the publication already referred to.

The article was carefully written so that it could not be accused of being a "smear," and no alternative political viewpoint was proposed. New Zealand Social Crediters were not urged to "disassociate themselves from the movement," but to "disassociate themselves from the company in which they now find themselves"—which clearly refers to the overseas parties.

No connection between the neo-Secretariat and the New Zealanders of the Social Credit Fascists of the Social Credit Political League was alleged. The article merely drew attention to tendencies within the local movement which could assist the overseas Birchites. The statements made by the 1954 candidate referred to were reported in the "Northern Advocate" at the time.

Those curious enough to seek the source of them can find the full reference in Martin Nestor's book "Monetary Reform and the Monetary Reformers," (the Wellington Public Library has copies).

To my mind, censorship of the Press is a long stride on the road to Fascism, and just that was attempted by the 1937 Alberta Social Credit government. Fortunately the act was disallowed by the Canadian Federal Government.

On this point, a further quotation from the publication (which is let it be repeated, a reprint of an article from "The Social Creditor" — published fortnightly in England and Australia) is relevant:

"The early efforts of Douglas and of the numerous supporters he soon gained lay in expounding his views on political economy, soon known generally a Social Credit, throughout the world, in the hope that public opinion, working through existing institutions of democratic government, might force the necessary rectification. In only one area of the world—Alberta, Canada, did this effort show any real slight promise of success. A nominal Social Credit Government was elected there. All it achieved, however, was the demonstration of what Douglas described as a fundamental factor in the world situation; that there were forces superior to the Albertan government which, operating through the Canadian Government, were prepared to keep the world in turmoil until the rule of a presently Secret Government is supreme.

"Every Albertan attempt to implement Social Credit modification of the financial system was disallowed by the Federal Government."

In summary, the article goes on to state that Douglas saw that a frontal attack on the monetary system could not succeed and that "an exposure of and attack on the conspiracy behind it were the only hope of achieving a better world."

The cost of the pamphlet. Mr. Dalglish, is 1/-, and it may be obtained (assuming that a vast public demand has not forced it out of print) from "Tidal Publication," Box 3266, GPO, Sydney, or from an English address.

Neither frivolous nor humorous, it would seem that the first article has not received the attention it deserves. However wacky Social Credit economic theory may be, the local party deserves a better fate than the sordid shame a John Birch label would bring.—H. B. Rennie.