NATIONAL SAVINGS CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 47, 19 November 1941, Page 8

NATIONAL SAVINGS CAMPAIGN

Decline In Wellington .

CALL FOR HELP TO FILL CITY’S QUOTA Concern was expressed yesterday by Mr. J. M. A. Hott, chairman of the Wellington National Savings Committee, at the decrease in the weekly contributions in Wellington. Savings in Wellington had dropped from £11,945 in the first week after the quota scheme was introduced to £5137 last week, which was distinctly below Wellington's weekly quota of £BOOO. "Wellington has slipped from the proud position it held in the first three weeks of being the only main centre that was filling its quota,” Mr. Hott said. "New Plymouth and Blenheim, the other two towns that fulfilled their task from the beginning, are still doing so. “As each day passes the money-ball on the Wellington Post. Office flagpole is hoisted up the pole a distance proportionate to the part of the quota that has been filled. If the ball reaches the top, indicating that the quota has been filled before the eud of the week, the flag is broken out from the pole. Though £BOOO has not been collected for several weeks now, the flag was flown before the end of every week, except last week, each week’s total having been swelled by the-carry-over from earlier weeks. Last week not only was the total paid in the smallest since the initiation of the money ball scheme but there was not sufficient carry-over from the previous week to help the ball to the top of the pole. “By now Wellington citizens should be making regular weekly contributions sufficient to fill their £BOOO quota always rather than allowing their total to decrease. This fall in money contributed to national savings accounts may be due to people putting money aside for holidays or for Christmas gifts, but this is a time when such expenses should be regarded as luxuries and second in importance to National Savings. It is a credit to individuals if they contribute to the scheme what they can, as well as a credit to the more fortunately placed people and business firms if they buy national savings bonds. It should be the aim of every loyal Wellington citizen to make the flag fly before the end of each week. “In this country we are. not called ou to make very substantial sacrifices, and for us to make this contribution to the war effort is little enough. It is selfish to be saving our money to spend on ourselves and our friends. It is our duty to make any sacrifice that, will heli) in any way the efforts of those of our citizens who are giving up so much, and risking so much, to do their duty nearer the enemy. Let it not be said that Wellington failed.”