SAVINGS ESSENTIAL

Evening Star, Issue 24481, 16 April 1943, Page 6

SAVINGS ESSENTIAL

WAR EFFORT AND REHABILITATION DEPEND ON THEM (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 15. The absolutely essential part of national savings in the war effort and in rehabilitation was emphasised by the Prime. Minister, Mr Eraser, speaking at' a conference of the national war savings organisation to-day. Mr Fraser saicLthat unless the utmost effort was niaue in the matter of savings, then not ouly would the country be embarrassed now and during the remainder of the war period, but the job of rehabilitation and general reconstruction later would be hopelessly handicapped. No matter how much lie would like to report that the need was lessening, he was afraid that that would not be the message of the Budget. Just as in the production field they must go on if the,country was to play its part in the British Commonwealth's war effort, so in regard to finance, the basis of our economic life, they must continue on the path that had been set, Mr Fraser said. It had to be brought home to the mass of the people that no matter what their jobs were they were letting down the men who ■were fighting and'making sacrifices unless they felt in their ow-ii minds and consciences that they were doing their work with their might. EVIL OF ABSENTEEISM. Among, a certain class of young, thoughtless people, the Prime 'Minister said, there was the evil of absenteeism. It was due to thoughtlessness more than any evil intention. That was one phase to which they must address themselves. Steps would have to be taken in this connection with as little coercion as possible. Mr Fraser said he fully appreciated the difficulties of the savings committees. They had bad to convince the people of the soundness of the scheme for lending their savings for the prosecution of the war and getting it back when commodities were plentiful, instead of indulging in., excessive purchases at the present time, the effect of which was simply to raise prices. Mr Fraser said he knew of no more sacred trust imposed on any Government than to see that those who gave their money freely _ and willingly to help, the country in its hour of danger received every penny of it bade, together with the interest that had been promised. That applied to all war savings and war loans, and people would be dishonest, untruthful, and deceitful if any other thought ever crossed tneir minds. country's resources as they were developed were adequate, and more than adequate, to meet all the calls that would be < made to repay to. the people the money they had given so cheerfully. Speaking of Canada's progress in iraising money by means of war loans and from other sources, the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) said that after he had spoken of New Zealand's contributions one Canadian had written to the Press claiming that' New Zealand had been financed from overseas in her war effort. The fact was, of course, that the whole of the costs incurred in New Zealand's Avar effort had been met out of the people's savings, except for some minor items that had not yet come to charge. That was a remarkable _ tribute to the people of this Dominion. War could only be carried on on the basis of the goods and services available, less those taken for civilian consumption, Mr Nash said. More could be made available for military purposes if the people of New Zealand saved their money and went witho.it. Civilians in New Zealand did not know the true meaning of sacrifice as did the people in some other couiitnes. Every ounce of time and energy and every possible penny must be put into the task of bringing the war to a successful conclusion in the shortest possible time and paving the way for the building of n better world.