THE WAR LOAN.

Western Star, 24 August 1917, Page 3

THE WAR LOAN.

The following message is officially

supplied : The people of New Zealand are commencing to realise the fact that the War Loan has been placed on the market, and the first fruits of the. advertisements and the advocacy oif ihe press, the clergy, school teachers, and heads of local bodies, are beginning jo be apparent. Enquiries are numerous, particularly with reference to the 5 per cent. Post Office War Bonds, and money is commencing to steadily flow, into both the Treasury and the Post Office.

One patriotic citizen in Christchurch has offered to exchange £SOO worth of 5} per cent, debentures issued by a sound local body in exchange for a like amount of Post Office Bonds. He stands to lose one-quarter per cent, by the transaction, but his action is one of the first evidences of the patriotic spirit in which it is ■toped the loan will be regarded. With reference to these 5 per cent. Bonds it cannot be too clearly understood that the only declaration required is one that the proposed purchase does not bring the amount held beyond £SOO. The amount already reported to Wellington as subscribed reaches over £150,000. This may be regarded as but a small beginning towards the twelve millions required, but there are no doubt many subscriptions on the way.

Altogether the loan has opened with the brightest prospects of success, nevertheless there is no reason why anyone who is able to do, so should further postpone sending "in an application, no matter whether the sum to be invested be large or small.

A chief, stockbroker stated to a representative of ‘The Press’ that although the latest New Zealand, war loan was only recently placed on the market, and despite the fact that race week was not the most opportune time for the transaction of a. broker’s business, yet a large number of applications for prospectuses were received, and a number of war bonds have been applied for. A great umber of enquiries had been made regarding the provision attached to the loan—i.e., that £1,000,000 of it. shall be reserved For individual persons who desire to invest in securities which will be

available for payment of New' Zealand death duties. He thought it very probable that the applications for bonds under this clause would repre-

sent an amount considerably in excess of £1,000,000.