The Dominion. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1944. THE LAGGING LOAN RESPONSE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 4, 29 September 1944, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1944. THE LAGGING LOAN RESPONSE

There is justification for the claim of the Governor of the Reserve Bank (Mr. W. F. L. Ward) that the time has come for plain speaking regarding the disappointing response so far made to the Victory Loan. The duty that devolves on every citizen at this time is to see the issues clearly, set resolutely aside the non-essentials —and they include personal or political differences —and then do what it is obvious should be done. There may . be—there undoubtedly is—in many quarters doubt felt as to the control and direction of the Dominion’s efforts, some feeling that there has been unnecessary expenditure and extravagance, some resentment that political interests have obtr.uded into what should be a wholly non-political sphere. All those contentions,. and many others like them, can be admitted and it must still remain basically true that the money sought by way of loan is a vital requisite for a vital purpose. There might have been—putting things quite bluntly—a .more spontaneous response to the loan issue had there been the maximum political unity in the government of the country and the direction.of the war effort. There is a spirit of discontent and dissatisfaction abroad, aroused by many aspects of the Government’s administration. Whatever grounds there may be for this state of public opinion—and we ourselves have found much on which to base complaint—no one should fail to recognize that the over-riding consideration at the moment is the obligation, which every one of us owes, to support by every means within our power the men who are risking their lives for us overseas. So all lesser considerations must, for the time-being, be laid aside, and the urgency of the need for making the Victory Loan a success adequately realized. It would be idle to ignore that in many instances the response that is required to attain this end will entail a real sacrifice. It is equally important, however, for all to recognize that in one way or another the finance necessary must be found. .