TWO MILLION LOAN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2595, 18 October 1915, Page 6

TWO MILLION LOAN

HELPING OURSELVES

THE SILVER BULLET

Tho Minister of Finance made a statement to the Press last evening respecting the two million loan for public works purposes which is to he raised within the Dominion.

"To all intents and purposes this is as much a war loan as it would bo if it were raised directly for. the equipment of armies and tho provision of munitions," said Sir Joseph Ward. "The Mother Country has undertaken to provide the money the Dominions require for their military operations— a matter of some live or - six millions in the case of Now Zealand alone for the current year—but with the enormous demands being made upon her in every direction we cannot in reason or decency expect her to finance our local expenditure as well. •

"In normal conditions we should have gone to London for this money. But the conditions to-day aro not normal, and it behoves us as patriotic citizens of the Empire to shoulder this burden ourselves, in order that our work of development and production, which is of more importance than, over to the nation in the present crisis, shall go on with as little interruption 'as possible. The maintenance and expansion of industries, trade, and commerce are scarcely of less consequenco than the supply of men in the present terrible struggle, and I am sure that people who realise this fact will not hesitate to assist in supplying what aro essentially and in a very special senso the sinews of war.

"There is no need to say anything about the loan as a moans of investment. It will particularly appeal to the small investor in this respect. There are no alarming formalities to be observed, no delays, no risks, no commissions to be mid. 'Tho interest is good, the security the best in the world, tho time of repayment practically at the option of the investor.; His debenture

will always be saleablo at its face value, and probably at a premium. ".But 1, would rather appeal to ihe sentiment of the small capitalist than to his business-instincts. - Many of us are unable to go to the war. Age, physical , disability, domestic responsibilities, all of them or any of thorn, may tio ua to our homes; but hero we have nn opportunity to do tho next best thing—to help on, to the utmost of our means, the sacrcd cause for which tho whole Empire is fighting, to remind our kith and the front that we aro ready to do our part without stint and to demonstrate to bur enemies that no difficulties and no •6ufferings J no opposition, however formidable it may be, can weaken our resolution nor lessen our enthusiasm.

"It may seem unnecessary for New Zealand to make repeated displays of its loyalty. Hers wo all know so well how deeply it is ingrained in the very lifo and being of the people, that even its expression may appear a.superfluity. But our enemies, \Vho miss no opportunity for tho invention of new lies or the circulation of fresh slanders, are Watching us as closely as ever to-day, with ;tlic same malign purpose as they started -the war, and would delight in any excuse for tho repetition of their infamous misrepresentations. 1 wantto see the people of the Dominion, every man and woman, and even every child, joining in a united effort to send to them the answer which lias been flung hack by our countrymen at tho battle front and in the trenches. We all can hurl tho silver bullet according to our financial ability. Lot us do it now."

The nrospectns has been well received in Wellington, and financial authorities expect there will bo a ready response by both small and large investors. Forms of application may be obtained from any postal money-order office or from tho Treasury.