The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1920. THE £6,000,000 LOAN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18017, 4 November 1920, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1920. THE £6,000,000 LOAN.

The call is for £6,000,000. Even in these days of large figures it is a considerable sum, and its provision will necessitate a loyal and widespread response on the part of the investing public. By reason of the laudable purpose for which the money is required, the loan is deserving of the cordial support, of all classes of the community. So far what lias been accomplished in the repatriation of our soldiers stands as highly creditable to the Government and to the nation. It is desirable that New Zealand’s admirable record in this respect should not be sullied .by any failure now that the completion of our national obligation is in sight. We promised as a people to do our duty by the men who returned from the war, and we must -fulfil that promise to the letter. Every man who went away riskedjihis all, his life. Recognising this, the country pledged its honour not only to meet the just claims of the dependants of those who fell, and to provide reasonably for the sick and wounded and incapacitated, but also to give those who returned uninjured>a fair chance to make good in civil life. Hence, as the Prime Minister has put it, this £6,000,000 5 J per cent. Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Loan is intended to supply the remaining funds required for repatriation and soldiers’ settlement purposes. It is the hope and expectation of the Government that the amount now asked for will suffice to meet the country’s obligations to the men of the expeditionary forces. Hence this loan is to be the last of Qie war series. This being the case, it will be to the lasting credit of the Dominion if the whole amount is promptly and spontaneously subscribed. Back of the moral obliga- ■ tion, which cannot honourably be ignored, is the fact that the proper recognition of. that obligation entails no serious sacrifice on the part of the people. As we have said, the men for whose benefit the money is required risked all: the lenders of the money will risk nothing. In his open letter to the people Mr. Massey has correctly summed up the (position;

The Loan itself is of the reproductive order, and eventually every penny of' the money subscribed will be returned to the State. It is offered on liberal terms, the security is good, the whole credit of the State is at its back and the duty of finding the money is incumbent upon us. There it is in a nutshell: a worthy cause and a safe investment. Under the Act authorising the flotation of the loan the Government is armed with full powers of compulsion, and there are penalties stored up for those who may be found deliberately seeking to evade their liability to contribute in proportion to their means. Mr. Massey, however, is confident that it w’ill not be found necessary to enforce the penalising clauses of the Act, and stakes his faith on a successful voluntary flotation. We do not think he will be disappointed in the ultimate result, although we doubt whether the goal can be reached in so short a period as twenty-five days. To raise £6,000,000 in that time and under existing financial conditions will call for the patriotic and wholehearted co-operalion of all sections of the community. So far as Wanganui is concerned, it is pleasing to see tnat Hib Worship the Mayor (Mr. T. B. Williams) is early in the field as an advocate of the loan, and that he has invited all citizens desirous of promoting the best interests of the ex-soldiers and of the country to meet him at the Council Chambers this afternoon.