Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY AUGUST 20th. 1917. THE LIBERTY LOAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 August 1917, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star MONDAY AUGUST 20th. 1917. THE LIBERTY LOAN.

There should, of course, be no reason to doubt the financial success 01 tho Liberty War Loon, which the National Government have put before the people of New Zealand, but this assurance should not bo any excuse for the people, be they great or small investors, shirking their duty in tho matter. The loan is required, and required urgently, not alone to fceek in establishing the full liberty of the people of ' this country, nor of the great Empire to which wo are proud to belong, but to the vast peoples of tho earth, both now and hereafter, who, by reason of the triumph of tho Allies in the gigantic war, will have their national security" guaranteed to thorn. The appeal for money within New Zealand at

this juncture concerns the people J themselves, and it is they who must make the loan a pleasing financial success! It can. bo mpdo so for two positive reasons. The first is that tne money is within the country to achieve what is desired. The second is that it is all important to provide every penny of the twelve millions forthwith. It is not asking anything unreasonable of the people to provido what in pre-war times would be considered so huge a sum, because as we say, tho money is bore, and there is the need for it. If tho appeal were on purely patriotic hues—tile love for one’s countryalone, the answer should be prompt and adequate. The appeal is for wider reasons than our own horizon, and wo have a greater duty than even that of helping ourselves. For this reason tno response should he universal, so that all may participate in tho privilege of performing what has become a selfimposed duty on all enjoying the liberties we live under whero the Union Jack flies, The success of the loan will assist to keep the flag flying, and will be some practical contribution towards'helping to win tlie war. The conflict is at that crucial stage now where there can ho no turning hack, no faltering by the way, else tho sacrifice which has gono before will have been id vain. The duty now is by greater sacrifice to build on the foundations laid by the heroes who have themselves .made the supreme sacrifice for country, and so rear so great and overwhelming a force of opposition to the enemy that the monster will in the end bo oveu-ome, and forever cease from challenging tne world’s liberties. The loan now before the people is a direct appeal for funds to enable Now Zealand to fight on to the finish, which will give us, in common with the Allied belligerents and the neutral onlookers, a full guarantee for national security. No price in money, as the Minister of Finance. has indicated in his special appeal to the people, can he too great for such a victory. This appeal will not be in vain, for the country has the resources in capital to answer the call. If all assist as they should, we sliall have further guaranteed proof that New Zealand is in the war to see it through to the end for which the country sot out, and that there will not be any faltering by the way. Tho present is tho people’s opportunity to do their sacrificial duty. They will do it—of that we are persuaded.