Crusade: Social Credit's Drive for Power""Crusade" is the first full length study of the Social Credit movement in New Zealand. It is a fascinating story of how a once derided group of men and women whose ideas on politics and money were dismissed as "flat earth" have created an organisation which in 1981 threatens to upset the traditional political order in New Zealand. The Social Credit story begins with two extraordinary men -- Major Douglas, the originator of the Social Credit theory, and the Reverend William Aberhart, the winner of the landslide victory in Alberta in 1935 and the first Social Crediter to hold political power. "Crusade" documents the careers of these two men and analyses their impact on the Social Credit movement of today. The history of the organisation in New Zealand is traced from its ebullient campaigning for the Labour Party in the 1930s, through to attempts at a coalition with National in the 1940s, to the cautious foundation of the Social Credit League, to the election campaigns, to the bitter splits and infighting, from the low point of 1972 when the organisation seemed doomed to political extinction to the high of 1981 when the impossible dream of political power seems a reality."--Back cover. |
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1978 General Election Aberhart accept Alberta answer appeared argued argument banks become believe Bill Bill Rowling British Columbia Bruce Beetham by-election campaign candidate cartoon committee conference Cracknell's credibility crusade debate delegates Dominion Douglas Credit Douglas's East Coast Bays economic economists election electorate fact faith gained Hunter implement inflation interest issue John O'Brien Labour and National Labour Party leadership League's Major Douglas major parties matter Mayor of Hamilton ment monetary reform monetary system Muldoon Nash National and Labour National Party never Norman Kirk pamphlet Parliament parliamentary percent political organisation poll pragmatists Prime Minister programme purchasing power Rangitikei Raynel Rowling seats Social Credit doctrine Social Credit Government Social Credit League Social Credit movement Social Credit theory Socred success television things tion Vernon Cracknell vote voters voucher Waikato wanted William Aberhart Zavos Zealand Zealand politics