LIBERTY LOAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 220, 28 June 1943, Page 2

LIBERTY LOAN.

LOWEST DAILY FIGURE YET. SPECIAL FILM AT THEATRE. Investments in the Third Liberty Loan at Ashburton on Saturday were the lowest since the beginning of the loan campaign, totalling £2911, which brings the amount in hand to £81,553. This sum included £72 from the bond depot. With every day that passes the daily total required for Ashburton to attain its target grows bigger. A packed house at the St. James Theatre saw a special film called “The Cost of the War” screened in aid of the Liberty Loan campaign on Saturday night. It included a speech by the Hon. W. Nash, in which he appealed to the people to invest their savings freely to save the freedom of the country. Interesting figures were given about the cost of tanks, munitions and other equipment of war and from these it 'was- easy to realise the tremendous amount of money required to keep New Zealand’s fighting forces —both at home and abroad —equipped. A feature of the film that took all by surprise and was the subject of much comment afterwards was the demonstration of the vast quantities of sugar used in the manufacture of ammunition. After the conclusion of the special film the chairman of the Ashburton Liberty Loan Committee (Dr. J. Connor) addressed the audience. Emphasising the necessity for Ashburton to attain its target in the loan, he painted a vivid picture of the hardships endured by the men in the various theatres of war and said it was surely a small thing to lend money at interest when thousands of gallant men were daily offering their lives. A great effort had been made to have .the theatre appropriately decorated for the event and tl?e display was quite impressive. Striking posters were shown in prominent positions in the foyer and large placards decorated each side of the stage. Bonds were on sale at the theatre but no sales were made.

TOTAL FOR TME DOMINION. HALF OBJECTIVE IS RAISED. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Juno 27. Liberty Loan figures completed to Saturday show a highly satisfactory total of investors who number 124,121 alter giving credit to subscribers of £L bonds and those who have opened National Savings accounts. “Up to the present,” states the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), “our published figures have included only those who have purchased stock and bonds for £lO or more. The number of these, however, has now risen to 41,000, but what is more pleasing is the satisfactory result disclosed from the preliminary count of the bijyers of £1 bonds and depositors to savings accounts. These amount to no fewer than 78,000, and the list is still incomplete, as it has not been possible to check through the large number of deposit slips received.

“The following is a summary to date:—“Stock applications, 29,944 for £16,078,465 j £IOO bonds, 496 for £68,635, £lO bonds, 11,571 for £253,120; £1 bonds, 28,110 for £55,91S; National Savings accounts, 55,000 for £1,021,777 —showing a total of 124,121 investors for £17,477,915.”

Districts which have passed the halfway mark in reaching their objectives are: Wellington, 59 per cent., representing £2,591,488; Auckland, 54 per cent., representing £3,614,047; Nelson, 52 per cent., representing £286,799; Dunedin, 51 per rent., representing £1,274,249; Invercargill, 51 per cent., representing £663,568.

National institutions have subscribed £4,660,000.

“The result is excellent,” added Mr Nash, “and we are looking forward to records being broken in the coining week. Mastcrton, for instance, a Subdistrict of Wellington, has raised 80 per cent, of its quota. Wo are particularly looking forward to soipe of the city and district areas reaching their quofti during the -week. “1 must point out, however, that in three wqpks ive have raised approximately half the loan, leaving a similar amount to be secured in two weeks. Wo must not lot up. Everyone who has not subscribed should do so, and subscribe to the limit, while some of those who have already done so may be able to do more. I am sure New Zealand will respond to the call, and that when the final figures are given we shall achieve a record both as to numbers of investors and the amount invested.”

INVESTMENT BY MR J. R

McKenzie,

A Liberty Loan investment of £50,000 has been made by Mr J. It. McKenzie, of Christchurch At the same time as his personal contribution was made, £IO,OOO was subscribed by the McKenzie companies and £2500 worth of bonds wore purchased and made available for staff acquirement. Mr McKenzie's other personal interests contributed a further £IO,OOO, so that ell told no less than £72,500 has been subscribed -by the McKenzie interests in the Liberty Loan. A total of £97,000 has been subscribed by the same interests in previous loans. TTiuler a scheme by which the firm advances the money and repayment is made in small instalments by the staff, it is expected that a substantial total will be contributed to tho loan by the Ashburton Branch of McKenzie’s Ltd.