LIBERTY LOAN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23974, 15 June 1943, Page 6

LIBERTY LOAN

CHRISTCHURCH SUPPORT EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS After hearing addresses from the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) and Lord Burghley, M.P., a large and representative gathering of Christchurch citizens in the Civic Theatre last evening pledged itself to support the Third Liberty Loan. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) presided. The resolution of support, which was moved by Mr S. L. Wright, and seconded by Mr T. Martin, secretary of the Seamen’s Union, declared that every employer would pledge himself to make the highest possible investment personally, and endeavour to secure that his organisation would also adequately support the loan. Further, each employer present pledged himself to encourage and facilitate by every means in his power the maximum support of the loan by his staff. The purpose of his visit to Christchurch, declared the Minister, was to explain to employers and the representatives of organised workers the necessity for investing in the loan. Mr Nash recalled the success of the £100,000,000 loan in Australia, which had been oversubscribed, and other similar appeals in Canada and Russia in recent months. “The success of this loan to a considerable degree,’’ said Mr Nash, “rests upon those workers who have money to invest to do so.’’ The Minister reminded workers that all that had been fought for in the way of liberty and freedom would be lost if Germany and Japan succeeded in their attempt at world domination. “When Britain went into this war, we went in, too,’’ he said. “We are all in it in defence of our ideals.” Recalling his experiences abroad Mr Nash spoke of his intense pride in young New Zealanders who, day after day and night after night, flew over the Continent risking their lives so that those who remained at home might do so in freedom. “This 'little country of ours has a fine record,” he added, “on the land, in the air, or on the sea, wherever New Zealanders have fought. There are none better. I have heard competent generals say that there is no better division than that one of ours which has been fighting under General Freyberg in North Africa.” "This is not a war for one nation, nor for one combination of nations,” the Minister continued. “But it is a fight for all regardless of race, or creed, or colour. There are some people who talk about colour. Have they read of the gallant exploit of Second-Lieu-tenant Moana-nui-a-Kiwa Ngarimu, of the Maori Battalion, when he won the Victoria Cross? There has been no more gallant action than his. No, there is no colour bar in this war.” Mr Nash said that Fijians were now fighting beside New Zealanders and Americans at a post nearest the Japanese in the Western Pacific. “They are not thinking of colour,” he commented “They are fighting so that all men in the years to come can live at peace.” The Minister paid tribute to the Russians, the Americans, and the Chinese, and the inhabitants of those occupied countries that looked to Britain and her allies to bring them freedom. “If our boys are fighting as we know they are, regardless of their own lives,” Mr Nash concluded, “surely it is right for us to pay. Surely, when that strange man, the Minister of Finance, says that he is not going to increase taxation, it is not too much for you to lend him your money when he asks you to do so. That money is to make the world of the future a better world than the one we have known in the past.” “I am here in this hemisphere on a mission on behalf of the Minister for Air Production, Sir Stafford Cripps,” said Lord Burghley. “I am a Tory member of Parliament. The fact that we are working enthusiastically together for a common purpose, a common aim, is evidence of our unity. I do not think there is anyone who could describe Sir Stafford Cripps as a Tory M.P,” (Laughter.) After speaking of the enormous advances that had been made in industrial production in England, Lord Burghley remarked that British people had made a corresponding increase in agriculture. “There is no doubt about the fact that we are producing more food than ever before,” he said. “The face of the whole countryside has been changed. The pastures have been ploughed, and grain is growing, and a great army of land girls is employed. Still, there is a gap. Unless that gap is filled there is nothing but starvation facing the people of the British Isles.” For that reason, he said, he wished to pay tribute to New Zealand producers who had striven mightily to fill that gap. “I would like to express our most sincere gratitude to you people in New Zealand for your help,” he added. He, too, paid tribute to the Russians, and declared that they were going on from strength to strength. “But there is an enormous army up against them,!’ declared Lord Burghley, “and I want you to know that we are doing all we possibly can to relieve that tremendous pressure.” There was still another way, he concluded, in which New Zealanders could contribute to the war effort, and that was by subscribing to the loan, and he emphasised the fact that money should be spent only on necessities. "I have given that advice on more than one occasion in England,” he said, “and I repeat it here.” The Bond Waggon entertainers, under the direction of Mr Jack Maybury, met with a cordial reception. For their first song a member of the audience, who preferred to remain anonymous, gave £IOOO. CHRISTCHURCH TOTAL £375,000 INVESTED J It was announced last night that to date £375,000 had been invested in Christchurch in the Third Liberty War Loan. The total is made up of £340,000 in inscribed stock, and £35,000 in national savings bonds and accounts. Some of the principal investments were:— £ Aulsebrook and Company, Ltd. 25,000 Kaiapoi Woollen Manufacturing Company, Ltd. .. 10,000 Stacey and Hawker, Ltd. 5,000 Massey Harris, Ltd. .. 5.000 Christchurch Press Co., Ltd. 5,000 Canterbury Jockey Club .. 4.000 Mrs M. M. McDougall .. 2,250 Lichfield Shirts, Ltd... .. 2,000 Mr Alfred Louisson .. 2.000 Glassons, Ltd. 1,000 Cooper. Wilkes, and Brookes, Ltd. .. 1.000 Simpson and Williams. Ltd. .. 1.000 Brown Bros., elect, engineers 1,000 United Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association of N.Z. .. 1.000 Mr Harry Walshaw (making a total of £2150) .. ~ 750 Mr Stewart Robinson .. 500 Actual bond sales yesterday wer6 £2529, and investments in national savings accounts were £7BOO, making a total of £10,329. LEAFLETS DISTRIBUTED FROM AEROPLANE The Third Liberty War Loan campaign will be inaugurated at Rangiora to-day. Proceedings will begin with a procession through the town at 2.30 p.m. The W.A.A.F.’s band from Christchurch will be in attendance. A party of Fijian naval ratings, who have assisted the appeal in Christchurch, will be present. The Loan Committee will also be represented by two speakers. During the aeroplane trip of the Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash) and Lord Burghley from Wellington to Christchurch yesterday, some 12,000 leaflets containing an appeal to subscribe to the loan from Lord • Burghley and the crew of the

Lancaster bomber, were dropped from the aeroplane. Mr Nash himself autographed some of the leaflets, as did also the British Parliamentarian and Master Francis Newall, the young son of the Gov-ernor-General (Sir Cyril Newall). Finders of these autographed leaflets, says the Minister, may exchange them for a £1 Liberty bond by sending the leaflet to him at Parliament House. Wellington. AUCKLAND’S SHARE SQUADRON OF BOMBERS TO BE BOUGHT (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 14. The announcement that part of the Auckland contribution toward the Third Liberty Loan would be used in the purchase of specific equipment was made by the Mayor (Mr J. A. C, Allum) at a meeting of employers, when methods of interesting wage and salary earners in the loan were discussed. “I have arranged that out of Auckland’s subscription a squadron of bombers will be bought, and will be known as the Auckland squadron.” said Mr Allum, “If the workers of Auckland subscribe their share of the £10,000,000 called for by the Federation of Labour, this squadron can be known as the workers of Auckland contribution.” >