New Zealand League of Rights
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand League of Rights was the New Zealand offshoot of Eric Butler
's League of Rights
.
Following speaking tours of New Zealand in the late 60s Eric Butler sought the establishment there of a local version of his organisation. A New Zealand League of Rights was announced in 1970 but did not become operational until 1971. Its first director and co-founder was Sidney Wood. In 1979 David Thompson became its director and revitalised the organisation, publishing a New Zealand version of On Target. The League increased its membership during the 80's. Thompson was succeeded in the mid-80's by Bill Daly who ran the League till its end. The organisation ceased activity in 2004.
Like the parent organisation the NZ League proclaimed its "loyalty to God, Queen and Country" and adhered to an ideology of Social Credit
, anti-semitism
, and was white supremacist. The NZ League sought to uphold the predominance of British race and culture in New Zealand and was oppposed to Marxism
, Human Rights
and internationalism
. The NZ League's anti-semitism was not as explicit as that of the Australian or Canadian League of Rights until later years.
The NZ League criticised the Social Credit Party
for having strayed from the path indicated by C. H. Douglas
and regarded itself as his true heir, but members maintained links with the party until the end of the 70s when the party indicate League members were no longer welcome. League members would then turn towards the National Party. League members were also active in other groups such as the Voters' Association.
The NZ League of Rights hosted the second Crown Commonwealth League of Rights conference in 1981. In 1993 Daly attempted to get David Irving
to tour New Zealand.
Eric Butler
Eric Dudley Butler , Australian political activist and journalist, was the founder of the Australian League of Rights.Butler was born in the Victorian country town of Benalla, although he lived most of his life near Melbourne. In the 1930s he became a follower of the British economist C. H. Douglas...
's League of Rights
Australian League of Rights
The Australian League of Rights is a long-lived far right and anti-semitic political organisation in Australia founded by Eric Butler with its basis in the economic theory of Social Credit expounded by C. H. Douglas. It describes itself as upholding the virtues of freedom...
.
Following speaking tours of New Zealand in the late 60s Eric Butler sought the establishment there of a local version of his organisation. A New Zealand League of Rights was announced in 1970 but did not become operational until 1971. Its first director and co-founder was Sidney Wood. In 1979 David Thompson became its director and revitalised the organisation, publishing a New Zealand version of On Target. The League increased its membership during the 80's. Thompson was succeeded in the mid-80's by Bill Daly who ran the League till its end. The organisation ceased activity in 2004.
Like the parent organisation the NZ League proclaimed its "loyalty to God, Queen and Country" and adhered to an ideology of Social Credit
Social Credit
Social Credit is an economic philosophy developed by C. H. Douglas , a British engineer, who wrote a book by that name in 1924. Social Credit is described by Douglas as "the policy of a philosophy"; he called his philosophy "practical Christianity"...
, anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, and was white supremacist. The NZ League sought to uphold the predominance of British race and culture in New Zealand and was oppposed to Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
, Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and internationalism
Internationalism (politics)
Internationalism is a political movement which advocates a greater economic and political cooperation among nations for the theoretical benefit of all...
. The NZ League's anti-semitism was not as explicit as that of the Australian or Canadian League of Rights until later years.
The NZ League criticised the Social Credit Party
Social Credit Party (New Zealand)
The New Zealand Social Credit Party was a political party which served as the country's "third party" from the 1950s through into the 1980s. The party held a number of seats in the New Zealand Parliament, although never more than two at a time...
for having strayed from the path indicated by C. H. Douglas
C. H. Douglas
Major C. H. Douglas MIMechE, MIEE, , was a British engineer and pioneer of the Social Credit economic reform movement.-Education and engineering career:...
and regarded itself as his true heir, but members maintained links with the party until the end of the 70s when the party indicate League members were no longer welcome. League members would then turn towards the National Party. League members were also active in other groups such as the Voters' Association.
The NZ League of Rights hosted the second Crown Commonwealth League of Rights conference in 1981. In 1993 Daly attempted to get David Irving
David Irving
David John Cawdell Irving is an English writer,best known for his denial of the Holocaust, who specialises in the military and political history of World War II, with a focus on Nazi Germany...
to tour New Zealand.
See also
- Australian League of RightsAustralian League of RightsThe Australian League of Rights is a long-lived far right and anti-semitic political organisation in Australia founded by Eric Butler with its basis in the economic theory of Social Credit expounded by C. H. Douglas. It describes itself as upholding the virtues of freedom...
- British League of RightsBritish League of RightsThe British League of Rights is an offshoot of the Australian League of Rights founded in 1971. It is "anti-semitic and white supremacist" political group. The British League opposed the entry of the UK into the European Economic Community....
- Canadian League of RightsCanadian League of RightsThe Canadian League of Rights was the Canadian offshoot of Eric Butler's League of Rights. Following speaking tours of Canada in the mid 60s Eric Butler sought the establishment there of a local version of his organisation. The CLR was formed in 1968....