CANADA’S AID.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4459, 29 January 1917, Page 2

CANADA’S AID.

MEN AND MONEY. NOTHING HUT DECISIVE VICTORY. The part that Canada lias played in Tie war received full recognition at the hands of Mr. McKenna, the late Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a speech in London last month. The occasion was a luncheon given to the Finance Minister for Canada, Sir Thomas White, by the Empire Parliamentary Association at the House of Commons, at which Mr. McKenna presided. Other Ministers and members of both Houses of Parliament, together with representatives of the Oversea, dominions, were present, Mr. McKenna, in proposing the health of Sir Thomas White, said that among all tho miserable illusions of the German General Staff none had Teen greater than the belief that Britain was effete and the Empire on the point of breaking up. “But, he continued, “if we have not- been surprised by tho loyalty and courage of the dominions, I must confess that 1 have been astonished at the power they nave shown. Who would have believed that Canada would have shown a power of munitioninent beyond any other country outside Germany,-or that she would, aC’er finding it necessary to borrow in the London market year after year, become not a burden but. ail aid to the Mother Country? Who would have thought that Canada would bo sending more soldiers than we sent to Soutu Africa. We have among us to-day the Finance Minister of Canada. In the field of finance lie has met with deserved success. Under his financial leadership, Canada, the borrower, has become a lender, and that balance of trade which was formerly year by year against her bias now, by the development of her resources, become hugely in her favor. In Great Britain we are proud that even in the midst of war we raise by taxation some portion of the cost of war. We have only followed the example of Canada. The financial security which arises from the knowledge that you are not only paying your way, not only providing for tho interest of the debt that you are incurring, hut that you are also contributing towards tLe immediate cost of the war, and are in possession of the means of tho remission of taxation after the war—that knowledge is something which gives ns credit in the money markets of the world.” iSr Thomas White said that out of a heterogeneous population of 8,000,000 Canada had sent 250,000 men to fight, and many more were at home waiting transport to reinforce their fellows at the front. Some of these had oome 3000 miles, some 6000 miles. Canada had floated two domestic loans, both amounting to 150,000,000 dollars, and had had 300,000,000 dollars subscribed. Canadians looked forward to a prolonged contest, and were not under any illusions as to an early end of the war. But they wanted no doubtful triumph, no precarious peace; they knew that the war could only bo won by hard fighting, and thepeople of Canada were of opinion that all the power of the Empire should: be directed to that end. (Cheers.')