FREYBERG FLAG PROSPECTS

Southland Times, Issue 25704, 13 July 1943, Page 5

FREYBERG FLAG PROSPECTS

Southland’s Chances Discussed Although the Southland postal district had only the fourth highest percentage of contributions to the third Liberty Loan above the target at the closing date, officials of the Southland Liberty Loan Committee still have high hopes that the Freyberg flag will be won by the province. The flag will be awarded to the district which has the highest percentage in the final returns. It is expected that the final returns will include the deferred wool payments, and it is for that reason that Southland officials are quietly confident. The response of the farming community to the appeals to invest more than the original 5 per cent, in Liberty Loan stock or bonds has been so good that the total received from this source may amount to as much as 10 per cent, of the value of the Southland wool clip for the season. If these expectations are realized the total Southland contributions may reach £1,600,000, equal to 124 per cent, of the target. That is 3 per cent, above the latest figures issued for the Nelson district and 6 per cent, above the Blenheim returns. It is thought that, the Nelson district wool payments will not approach those of Southland, and the final return from this province may be the highest in New Zealand. Contributions totalling £l9OO to the loan were received by mail in Southland yesterday and promises of special contributions to national savings accounts totalling £12,241, not previously included in the computation, brought the latest returns for the province to £1,501,096, equal to 16 per cent, above the target. If the wool payments invested in the loan reach £lOO,OOO, the target will be exceeded by 24 per cent. At a recent meeting of the executive of the Mokotua Tennis Club it was decided to invest £lOO of the club’s funds in the third Liberty Loan.