The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1944. VICTORY LOAN.

Grey River Argus, 13 September 1944, Page 4

The Grey River Argus WEDNESDAY, September 13, 1944. VICTORY LOAN.

If love of country means . for some the staking of their lives, it should for others mean the 1 staking of their wealth. So far the Victory Loan after two weeks of the campaign has gone a quarter of the way. leaving threequarters to be covered in the remaining three weeks. There are over five thousand people endeavouring to influence the others to subscribe, and, as the investment is sound, they are well warranted in their advocacy; but the fact remains that the response is still slow or grudging. City newspapers are saying as much, but of several districts outside cities the same holds true. No doubt local committees, numbering four hundred, while they will further improve their organisation, are in some areas anxious lest the quotas shall not be reached. The Westland district quota is less than half a million, and that for Greymouth well below £200,000, so that it is not by any means beyond local resources. As Mr. ,Nash points out, for us the war is not over when Germany is overcome —New Zealand has 'co go on finding men and equipment until the defeat of Japan. The national income is now greater than ever in the Dominion. There is, however, no commensurate scope for its investment other than the loan, which returns interest from the day money is invested or . application lodged'; for which reason those who delay until the last week are not financially at any advantage. Fifteen days of the campaign had gone, and ten millions had been raised, stated the Minister _ of. Finance (Mr. Nash} last night. The proportion of bonds and national savings were, he said, three times in excess of the total of these items which had been raised in a corresponding period of last year’s loan campaign; but the subscriptions for stock were not half as much. “Some people are holding back,” he suggested. “I know the money is here in surpluses of corporations, companies, and in private accounts, and we could give inspiration to our boys overseas and to Britain by keeping New Zealand’s good name right up to the point whore it has been for years.” The community must show determination to float the loan if it is to be worthy of the work which has been done and the sacrifices made already in the national war effort. Next week the Air Force is taking a hand in the campaign, and when people observe planes which have done notable service in the Pacific , they will doubtless realise the need of more money to keep up that service until the day of final victory. There is a big disparity between the percentages of quota attained in some districts and those in others, the West Coast tending so far to remain,in the lower category. Country areas can show the towns a good example, and if they do so early they can rely on the fullest degree of emulation. Seeing how well New Zealand has come out of the war, no 'better form of thanksgiving could be now proposed than an overscription of the Victory Loan.