The North Otago Times MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1916. THE WAR LOAN.

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13652, 21 August 1916, Page 2

The North Otago Times MONDAY, AUGUST 21, 1916. THE WAR LOAN.

. To-day the largest loan-raising proposition ever launched by New Zealand witl close, so far as I he bonds are. concerned, ' but the time for' closing' the issue of loan certiticates has been extended. We fervently hope the loan will be hand- " somely supported and over-subscribed. Although there was not a very large ati tfiulancc at the meeting on Friday evening at which the loan proposals ;. were discussed and explained, we have 1 sufficient confidence in the people of 1 Oamaru and North Otago to believe that they will not shirk their obligations. Every man, woman and child is 6 duty bound, according to their respective capacity, to help the nation in its hour of peril, The great value of the loau scheme is that every man, no matter if lie invests only one sovereign, is joining the ranks of the helpers, just as the men who go forward in a combatant 6 capacity, Every man who contributes, o not only displays sound business acumen ,', but shows good citizenship and the o spirit of patriot ism. The golden sover- ;• eigns supply the sinews of war, without .8 which the Allies would go down in the is great light. If we look across the Tasman sea and try to realise the great part Australia is playing in the great war, we shall be compelled to admit that that Great Island, with all its droughts has done magnificently, The l, > Commonwealth Government has not jg : been in the habit of approaching the »8 Imperial Treasury, cup in hand, for loan - money, New Zealand, with its great resources and prosperous times has accumulated considerable wealth. VVe have responded nobly to the call for I, men, but it is not only men but money that is needed to carry ou the war to a successful conclusion, The banking returns up to Maivli'lllsl last showed that g, £I9,IM>,UIK» was lying at the banks, not earning a penny of interest, while large

sums stand to the credit of the deposi- • tors in the Post Office Savings .Bank. Surely this country, which is making ( huge profits from the war, will .rise to . .the occasion aijd respond liberally to 1 the call, for money; surely, the people who, happily, are away from .the red ' horrors of war will not refuse to help, j Although appeals to the patriotic spirit of the people have been made, the fact | remains' that the people of .New Zealand are not-being.asked to mako tlic- -■ least sacrifice—they are not being asked to give their money.to the State, but I to lend the money in return for a very 1 profitable rate of interest. For the hou-, 1 our of the district and the good name. [ of the Dominion we trust the people of [ Oamaru and North Otago .will give their i unanimous support to the proposals and subscribe liberally -to the Dominion's war loan.