THE SOLDIERS LOAN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 72, 18 December 1920, Page 12

THE SOLDIERS LOAN

NOT FULLY SUBSCRIBED

MONEY STILL BEING RECEIVED

•Tho Prime Minister junde a statement yesterday regarding the Soldiers* Settlement Loan. Tho period allowed for .subscriptions expired en Thursday, and the loan has not been fully subscribed.

"Wo have not got nil Hint wo nskeu for, but taking overythingjnfo.consideration, there is littlo' reason for complaint or dissatisfaction," said aft. Massey. "A very large proportion of the money which has c.oino Co hand is from smnll investor*, who are evidently satislied with Ihe country as socurity, anil' tho rate of interest oitered. The public as. a whole have responded so well .that there oan I>o very littlo excuse for' hanging Kick (in (lie partof those who have not yet contributed, butaro well : able to do so. Voluntary investments will be received until the eiid of the year, after which, if the amount required is not. readied, it yrill be necessary to bring the compulsory section of the Act itilo operation, though any. cases of hardship will bo considered by tho Commissioner." stated last evening that ho ..vyais not ready yet to make an annotiricement as to t.iio amourit of money contrijjuted to the Soldiers' Settlement Loan. Money' was still reaching the Treasury, and..past experience indicated tliat sub-scriptions-would continue-to come along in future weeks. If the application, of tho compulsory provisions of the Act became■ Jiccessn.ry in order., to produce .the. full amount required' for the repatriation, of the soldiers, the /'steps would be taken after tho holidays:--Mr. Massey in-, dicatod that ho wtis by 110 means alarmed by. the fact that- the whole nix millions had not been subscribed within the period allowed. Ho realisod that many people, while willing to do their duty in regard to the loan, were having some temporary difficulty owing to the tightness of the money market. He did noi doubt that the great, majority Of the pooplo who were liable to subscribe' lo the loan would do sp without waiting for compulsion.