Over three thousand attend the Allardville congress
The congress of the Union of Electors which took place at Allardville, N.B., October 10-1112, was a success, as are all the congresses of the movement. However, that of Aliardville was characterized by an atmosphere which was not apparent at other congresses. It seemed that there was something almost akin to a subdued air — not, a lessening of enthusiasm or determination or of fraternel charity -- but rather an air of solemnity in the face of the poverty which is one of the striking-features of life in New Brunswick:...... This is not to say that the people of New Brunswick were in any sense of the words, either apathetic or downcast; We doubt if anywhere else in the world you can find the joviality, the cheerful defiance in the face of all sorts of adversity which is part and parcel of the makeup of the Acadians. But the poverty was there throughout the countryside and in the streets of the towns and villages. And perhaps is was this striking confrontation with want which made the visiting Crediters realize that the task of Social Crediters was scarcely yet begun.::..
.. The program In spite of the length of the trip there were Crediters arriving in Allardville from points in northern Quebec up in the Abitibi. district and even as far away as Ontario. At approximately 7:00 p.m. the long caravan of cars began to arrive at the parish hàll in the town of Allardville. When the assembly was complete the evening session was held with the awarding of badges of distinction to all those who had distinguished themselves in working for the advancement of Social Credit through increasing the circulation of Vers Demain and The Union of Electors.
On Sunday morning at 9:30 am., divine ser-, vices were heid, uitended en masse by all the Crediters. After the services a combined. breakfast-dinner was had by all, gathered together in the congress hall in family style.. This is always one of the most agreeables events during the congress; breaking bread with comrades in arms.
At 12.00 noon, the parade in autos, began. The procession went from Allardville, along route 11 to Bathurst, through this town via Main street, then along route: 11 to West Bathurst, through Lourdes Valley, along route 11 again, along Middle River street, University street, Douglas avenue, St. André street, Murrayavenue, route 11; East Bathurst, St. Mary's street and then back to Allardville. The people of the district certainly were advised of the fact that Social Credit had come and was going to stay.: The afternoon session began with words of warm welcome from the mayor, and greetings from various officials presented to the assembly.
At 12:00 noon an auto procession formed and left Allardville to proceed through the countryside to Bathurst. There the autocade traversed the city throught the main street, went out the other side into the country for some distance, then returned through the city, traversing it again through the main street, all flags flying in formal procession.
The parade through Bathurst had for its end - more than simply advertising the fact that Social Credit had arrived in that part of New Brunswick.
Some weeks prior to the congress'all arrangements had been made for the lease of a parish hall in Bathurst. Three weeks before the congress the parish priest suddenly and inexplicably refused permission for the use of the hall. Arrangements were then made to hold the con" gress at Allardville where the parish priest was only-too happy to put the hall at our disposal. The mayor of Bathurst then agreed that a procession could be held through Bathurst with police escort and a stop-over in the city for words of welcome from His Honor. Suddenly, again, all this was reversed. The mayor refused - to have anything to do with the congress or
Crediters, denied the police escort and generally - let it be known that he didn't want Crediters
parading through the town of Bathurst flauntE ing their berets and banners to all the population.
Now we are not really too interested in discovering the why and wherefore of this sudden about-face on the part of those who were so willing to co-operate at the beginning. Suffice
it to say that they changed faces very quickly. - However, it is a fact that the district around
Bathurst is one of the poorest in New Brunswick. And it is another fact that the politicians who are responsible in quite some measure for the wretched condition of the people in these parts, make Bathurst their headquarters. And, of course, it is a well-known fact that the Union of Electors doesn't hesitate for a moment to go on the offensive when they scent injustice and tyranny of any sort. Keeping these facts in mind, it is not hard to imagine that ä clique, jealous of their power to oppress, would not be at all happy to see the movement enjoying any advantages in their citadel...
Consequently, the battle-hardened Crediters considered it a joy to parade back and forth through the town of Bathurst to let decent citizens know that the movement had come to stay and to let the not-so-respectable know that their days of free and easy ways were over:
In ithe afternoon at 2:00 pm., the main session got under way. Mrs. Gilberte Côté-Mercier, pointing up what had become the theme of the congress - poverty — addressed the
members..
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?'The Union of Electors has undertaken a crusade against poverty,'she said. "Physically. speaking, there is no reason for poverty; it has been vanquished Socially speaking, it has not been overcome. Abundance is of the will of God. It has been produced by man, by man's progress. The stores and warehouses are full. Yet at the same time, even here in the district of Gloucester, there are hundreds of families which are suffering terribly from cold and hunger. -: "We who have stayed overnight with these families have seen this poverty. There are families which pass half the month with nothing to eat but potatoes. The factor which is chiefly responsible for this poverty is the financial system. The financial system must be made to serve families. The congress, which today we are holding here is a protest against the officials responsible for such conditions: it is a protest against such poverty in the midst of a superabundance of goods.".
... Mr. Even on finance * Mr. Even, the director-general of the Union of Electors, before getting into the subject of this talk, deplored the fact that the civil authorities could "remain so unmoved and so cold in the face of such poverty and misery. Then he embarked on a masterful exposition of the financing of production and consumption under a Social Credit system.
"Crediters ask," he said, "that the financial - system serve man and not torture him. In what concerns the production of public and private goods and services, whatever is physically possible. and feasible, should by that very fact be made financially possible. The Bank of Canada should advance, or cause to be advanced, all the credit necessary for developments by municipalities, school commissions, hospitals, industry, commerce, etc. in the measure that they are necessary and possible - and that without the affixation of any interest rates to such credit advances. For after all, it is the public, the people, who in fact produce the real wealth of the country, and they should not by that fact be penalized by being obliged to pay money in interest, money which the banks do not even issue unless under the form of further interest-laden loans.'
"To finance consumption, Crediters demand the issuance of a dividend of $25. a month to all Canadians, a dividend to be sent out by the Bank of Canada. This dividend would make it possible for each one to obtain at least the. strict necessaries of life, which necessaries are: his by the fact of his being born a human being Furthermore it would help to fill out the universal lack of purchasing power. For the purchasing power which comes from wages and salaries dispensed as recompense for working on production is never equal to the total cost of all the goods produced. "..
."'The dividend would regulate the curious and. „tragic paradox of want and misery in the midst of abundance. Crediters are more determined than ever to push the demand for the dividend with all the strength and fervor of which they are capable."
This was the sum and substance of the director-general's talk.
on
Telegrams of congratulations - A telegram of congratulations was sent to the Hon. Mr. John H. Fleming, the premier of New Brunswick.
. "The thousands of Crediters of the Union
of Electors, coming from the four provinces... of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and: Nova Scotia, for the congress at Allard
ville, this Ilth of October, wish to congratulate you with all their hearts for the resol-, ution which you have adopted at the conference of the Atlantic Province premiers, asking that monetary system be placed at the service of production rather than.
being made to hinder it." A similar telegram was sent to Premier Stanfield of Nova Scotia, to Premier Shaw of Prince Edward Island and to Premier Smallwood of New Foundland....
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The poor. Because of the great poverty of the families in the county in which the congress was held, a truck load of clothing was brought by the "Crediters'to the congress. These goods were distributed to the families during the evening session on Sunday. The poor people were delighted to have these tawens of the movements desire to help, and many a mother was happy that her family would be well-clothed during the coming winter.
Monday morning, before separating to go to their various provinces, the congressists, went in procession to visit the poor district round about Allardville. "On another page of this issue there is a description of one of the poor homes.. Suffice it to say that the majority were nc better — and could hardly have been any worse.. This trip, perhaps more than any one single other factor, sent the visiting Crediters back to their homes, imbued with a new determination to rid society of the abomination of such poverty — "abomination" not because people are poor, but an abomination that people are forced to suffer such want when there is more the enough for everyone.
The Crediters who went to the Congress at Allardville, realized how much the poor need, help. They gave what they could, But one and all realized that it is not charity which is the -birthright of these poor families, but rather a just share in the abundant wealth of Canada, for they as well as the rich and well-off are heirs to all that cultural heritage that has been passed down from former generations; and as heirs of such wealth they have a right, a right in strictest justice, to a decent living.
And it is the aim of the Union of Electors to see that they get it.
Earl MASSECAR