METAL OR MEN ?

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 55, 2 September 1944, Page 8

METAL OR MEN ?

WAR LOAN AND HUMAN LIVES

"Expenditure; in this war is greatly in excess of what was needed to fight the war of 1914-18, and New Zealanders in this fifth year of a world struggle are being asked to lend their country a formidable sum. There are sound and heartening reasons for the bigger monetary outlay," states the National War Loan Committee. "Many can recall the pitiful expenditure of thousands of lives in the last war, just to win a half-mile of ground in the hope of breaking up the stalemate of trench warfare. Today, the "breakingout" process is more an expenditure of metal than human lives. "The first big break-through on the left flank of the Allied Army in. France last July was preceded by an air attack in which 7000 tons of bombs went down on the German lines during a few hours preceding the advance of tanks and infantry. The cost in material was prodigious, but the casualty list light. "Thus it is clear that war loans spent on aircraft, munitions, and guns is an effective way of limiting the expenditure, of priceless lives. Lending for such a purpose should be regarded as a privilege by those not called on to risk their lives. "New Zealand is manufacturing a good deal of war material as- well as producing food for fighting men. Much of its war expenditure consequently remains in our own country, the effect being evident in a buoyant labour market and a tremendously inflated national income. A solid part of this great turnover of cash has no possible outlet in the limited commodity market. The proper place for cash surpluses is the war loan."