SOLDIERS’ LOAN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160811, 19 November 1920, Page 2

SOLDIERS’ LOAN.

ME MASSEY’S APPEAL.

At the Show grounds yesterday afternoon, the Mayor (Mr T.' B. Williams), Mr Veitch, Mil 3 ., and ether local citizens made a : special appeal for subscrip/tions towards the .£(1,000,000 loan to complete the repatriation of returned soldiers. During the afternoon 'the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) expressed a .wish that he should be allowed ah opportunity of further impressing upon the people of Wanganui their duty of subscribing to the loan. " The Premier’s wish being gratified, he climbed on to a four-wheeled vehicle near the main entrance,,, and was soon surrounded by a large number, of people. Mr Massey had only time\to remark that he had not come to Wanganui to barrack fbr money for the loan, but for a holiday, when the Pipe Band put in an appearance and halted before the Prime, Minister. “I always take off, m) hat to the Highland pipers,” remarked Mr Massey. (Applause.) The Premier then went on to state that he could not resist the temptation of making an appeal on behalf, of the loan. He then reiterated his remarks that his visit to Wanganui was in the nature of a holiday, and he had enjoyed it immensely. In fact it was the best holiday he had had for the past six months.' The speaker then went on to refer to the splendid record Wanganui had established in regard to subscribing to patriotic funds, a record, he contended, which spoke for itself. He, however, hoped the people would not forget the pledges they had made to the soldiers when they left the district for the seat of war. Up to the present the town had responded liberally, but he was going to ask them now to do more. Some 15,000 soldiers had been placed in homes or v’pon the land,®but there were still some 5000 soldiers who wanted to go upon the land. In order to do this more money was required, and the people of the country were now asked to subscribe to the ,£6,000,000 lean. He impressed upon the gathering that they had to keep their promises to the soldiers, and for that very reason he was making an appeal to them. He reminded those present that at the last race meeting they had invested thousands of pounds on the tdtalisator. In regard to the loan, they were offered a much sounder investment, and only to lend the money with Government security behind it. Debentures sometimes went down, hut that was hardly possible in the present' case. Some people might he inclined to say that they could get 7 per cent, or even more for their money, hut he ventured to state that the men and women who invested in the soldiers’ loan for a period of five or ten years would he far better off in the end than those who invested elsewhere at 7 per cent- The Premief then stated that politicians as a rule were not endowed with a great deal of wealth, but he would make a sporting

offer and subscribe £IOO. ' (Applause.) The Premier 'again referred to the totalieator investments, and! remarked upon the large sums he . had seen pass* ing through the machine during his recent visit to Christchurch. He con eluded by remarking that the money, to be subscribed in order to redeem their promises to the soldiers, and he hoped. v the local people would not miss the opportunity. (Applause.)

A member of the audience then

stepped forward with a £1 bank note and remarked, “This is to help to ooren Bill Massey’s £100.” Messrs W. A, Veitch and W. S. Glenn, M’s.P., also mad© a special appeal fot contributions to the loan, A fair amount of investments were made on the grounds, and no doubt a large number of those who listened to the appeals will subscribe ip due course before the final date of closing the loan.