Sin—Mr Benvenisti, like most of us who are concerned with the reconstruction of the social order on Christian lines, realises that money is at the root of the evil. The particular point he raises, about the application of company profits, would
be met, I submit, by the institution of a social order in which certain principles were recognised. e.g.:
(a) " That money. being merely a means to an end and not an end in itself, should be the servant of the cOMrounIty. Therefore the creation and issue of money and the issue of credit must be controlled by the State for the common good."
(b) " That industry is the concern mainly of three sections of the community: the employer, the employee, and the consumer. Therefore, industry should function on a basis of co-operation between these three such as will secure the best results for all and will prevent any one section of the community from profiting unduly or profiting at the expense of, or to the harm of, another."
These clauses are quoted from a Manifesto bearing the 27 signatures of a group who realise that someone must make the first move in what your other correspondent, Mr Breen, rightly describes as the layman's job, A copy of this Manifesto, "Towards a Christian Social Order," will be sent to anyone interested. The first step towards getting a programme put into practice is to agree on the programme we want; this Manifesto aims at the making of that first essential step. The prospects of getting this, or any, programme put into practice must depend upon the support received in the initial stages, but providing this support is adequate the problem presented by the party " platform" need not be feared.
T. W. C. CURD.
49, Limesdaie Gardens, Edgware, Middlesex.
Catholic Vote
Sie,--With reference to Captain Curd's campaign, he may be interested to know that a year or so back a certain doctor with pronounced views in favour of birth-control was approached by our local Labour party with a view to becoming adopted as their prospective Parliamentary candidate. The individual approached declined, however, on the grounds that the large Catholic vote in the district would militate against their success.
The total Catholic vote in this area is probably not more than 5 per cent. vf those cast, but its influence is evidently out of proportion to its size. I would add that I, personally, do not think the organisation of Catholics into a separate political entity is desirable. Most of us have our opinions which fit broadly into one or other of the two main parties, and herein we can bring our influence to bear.
FRANCIS HUNT,
9, Washington Road, Caversham, Reading.