WAR IS NOT YET OVER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 75, 26 September 1944, Page 4

WAR IS NOT YET OVER

Although the rate at which contributions are being made to the Victory Loan has shown improvement in the last few days, there is still need for a much greater realisation on the part of the ■ public of the issues involved. The lag in contributions has probably been due largely ta a feeling that the war is already won. This is very far from being the case! Much of the money which the- public are being asked to provide has. already been spent; and the rest is demanded by commitments. If the war in Europe were to end tomorrow not a penny .less would be needed to meet this country's needs. Nor would the end of the war in Surope bring an end to New Zealand's responsibilities. Whether in the front-line or on the home front, New Zealand must play her part in the. defeat of Japan, and this will continue to impose a severe strain on the country's resources, financial and otherwise. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, in warning that the war in the Pacific has still to become an all-out effort, and that no Allied leader sees an early conclusion of it, has told the people of Australia that the strains and stresses on the Commonwealth will be treble what they have been. "The march towards victory," he said, "will be as stern as was the retreat in the dark days." These are words that should be taken to heart by every New Zealander. What everybody must realise is that, bright as the picture now appears to be, the need for -an all-out effort still remains. Moreover the time when people will be able to spend their surplus money freely, with profit to themselves, and* without danger to the country's economy, is still far distant. People who are retaining their savings in the belief that soon they will be able to buy the things they have waited for may. be assured that it will be long yet before their wants can be satisfied. In the meantime their money can be put to work.