THE WAR LOAN.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1918, Page 4

THE WAR LOAN.

THE COMPULSORY POWERS

WELLINGTON April L>

■Replying- ter -a- question in the House of Representatives on Monday evening, Sir Joseph 1 ' Ward said the compulsory clauses of. the Finance Act would , apply to the, Of millions now being raised also to the twenty millions to he raised shortly, file contribution of six times the amount of land and income tax was put in as a maximum, but the amount would be decided by 1 the Commissioner of Taxes after correspondence with the taxpayer. Those who had contributed 4-1 times their land and income tax to previous loans would he treated with consideration in the present or future loans, but he wished to make it plain that it was not a matter to/be trifled with. Money must he obtained. He was hopeful that the 9J million loan, would be subscribed, but be did not ’ think it would be easily done. This was only natural. As these large sums were required quickly, one after another, they were more difficult to get, but he was satisfied there was plenty of money in the Dominion. At another stage in the proceedings Sir Joseph Ward said he was unable to. disclose the position of the War Loa but he had just heard that the' Commercial Travellers’ Association had succeeded in raising £120,000, as against £IIO,OOO, last year, for which he thought they deserved the thanks of +he House and the country.

SERMON BY DEAN REGFAULT.

At St Mary’s, Manchester Street, Christchurch, on Sunday, the Very Rev Dean Regnault made an eloquent appeal to his parishioners to assist the Empire and New Zealand by subscribing td the war loan. He said that the secret of winning the war could be summed up in the two words, “ Obedience and sacrifice” on the part of every man, woman, and child—obedience to our rulers, whom we had given

power to guide the destinies of the Dominion, and sacrifice. Sir Joseph Ward had made an appeal to the people to contribute to the war loan. To comply with the request was an act of obedience—it might I also be a sacrifice, although the in- | vestment was safe and the return remunerative “But there is only one view I wish to put before you,” continued the speaker. “It is that of the sacrifice which is demanded of us, that sacrifice we owe to our own country. Through God’s providence some of us were brought to this Dominion, others were born under the bright sky of New Zea-

land, and all ought be animated by a pure patriotism.” Patriotism was second only to the love and duty we owed to God, to religion, and to the Church. They ought to love their country which was so rich in blessings, and which had been made prosperous by the labours of their forefathers, the, pioneers of New Zealand, whether they came from England, Ireland, or Scotland. Surely such a country was worth the sacrifice that was demanded of them. “ Many New Zealand boys,” said the speaker, “ had made the supreme sacrifice. Will it be said that those at the rear have been unwilling even to make the saciifice of some of their earthly goods in the cause for which their sons and brothers have died ?” The men at the front had to be fed and clothed and supported in every way, and the raising of the money asked for by the Government meant actually the saving of the lives of those who were near and dear to them ail. It might be that some here thought they were nor particularly interested in the ultimate result of the awful war ; it might be that some thought that commercial interests were too much to the fore, but surely none could say that they were not interested in the saving of the lives of their own flesh and- blood, the men they loved, the men they were proud of. • Dean Regnault spoke strongly against anything in the nature of extravagance at the present time. The people of New Zealand must learn to do without the luxuries of life. They were fortunate in being able to get the necessities without stint, and by a reasonable self-sac-rifice they could all help to bring the day of peace nearer, and to bring the war to a victorious conclusion. Luxury and extravagance could not go on, and the key to the situation lay in the hands of the average man and woman of the Dominion, who must resolve to do without everything not necessary to sustain health and efficiency. Though perhaps they did not have large sums to invest, all could invest small amounts. It was the small streams that made the big rivers.

In conclusion. Dean Regnault spoke af the great and noble work of the Red Cross, and appealed for assistance in its splendid activities.