THE SINEWS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 173, 11 April 1918, Page 4

THE SINEWS OF WAR

As will he seen from a statement made by Sir Joseph Ward in the House of Representatives yesterday, tho Government is taking power to inflict exemplary penalties upon persons who, having tho means, deliberately withhold support from the War Loan. The measures proposed arc certainly calculated to bring financial shirkers to heel. In place of tho forced contribution provided for in last yoar's legislation, peoplo of means who refuse to subsenbo are now to bo fined in an amount equal to twico their land and in-' come tax. At the samo time they are to be required to make such a contribution to tho Loan as tho Treasury deems equitable, and will rcceivo only 3 per cent, interest on their forced investment instead of the ordinary rate of 4j per cent. No doubt the imposition of these pains and penalties will meet with general and hearty approval, for those who attempt to ovade tho light sac : rifice of lending money to the State to meet war demands are at least as culpable as men who attempt to evade military service. Tho mere prospect of such penalties ought to be effective in stimulating reluctant lenders, and probably tho total numbor of these peoplo was not originally large. It would be a serious mistake, in any case, to allow the notion to gain currency that the application of pressure to peoplo of more than average means is the last thing needed to ensure the success of the Loan. It is, on tho contrary, very necessary that men and I women throughout tho country, even j though their means are limited, ! should very seriously consider whoI ther they can afford not to sub- ; scribe to the War Loan at a time j when the fate of free- nations is j trembling in the balance and our ! own Dominion is called upon to | make additional and perhaps heavy j calls upon its manhood. The mim- ! ber of those who can respond to tho call to arms is limited, but thero are very few who cannot contribute in some measure to the financial resources without which tho Dominion would be unable to equip its' gallant fighters and mnir.tain them in tho field. The War Loan offers to all who must for any reason stay at home an opportunity of directly contributing to the victory of tho Allies upon which our own future as a Dominion depends. The great need is that the Loan call should bo brought directly to tho notice of all who aro in a position to contribute, whether on a largo or a small scale. Very valuable service in this direction is being done at present bv the members of the Wellington Commercial Travellers' Association, who aro constantly to the fore in patriotic activities. They are making untiring efforts to stir and interest investors in the time that remains available—tho date set down for closing the Loan is Monday next— and are in charge also of a "tank" which has already attracted a considerable sum from small investors. "Tank banks" have collected enormous sums in British and American cities, and if tho enterprise of the local commercial travellers meets the response from tho public which 'it deserves results proportionately as notable should be reached hero! It should bo a matter of nride with every man and woman in the Dominion to invest in the War Loan as their means will permit. At a mooting of tho Wellington Operative Butchers' Union tW ' following resolution was carried: "That this union enters its protest against the action of tho Government in allowing its members to bo conscripted for mi)£ tar.v service when their presence is moat essontial in tho country during such a trying time, and also resents strongly the actions of the Military Appeal Board in its decisions in regard to Mr. Lnidlaw and Mr. P. C. Webb.