Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 1918, MONEY TALKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 1918, MONEY TALKS.

It is a trite, saying that money talks, and just at. the present, America, now “all in” in the war, is talking very eloquently in millions of dollars. At the outbreak of the war, Mr Lloyq spoke of the value of the “silver 1mllofc” in winning the war, and to that end our statesman genius organised the finances of Britain in such a way that for nearly four years the country was able to bear almost the full burdens of tlio* financial responsibility of the war, not alone for the Empire’s participation in. that tremendous event, hut for the, benefit of the Entente Allies also. When the United ,State a came into tlu* war, there was another vast country of substance to share the burden with Britain .and so the huge debt has been provided for and carried in a sensible, well-thought out wav, not involving financial disaster, or even the threat of it. All through the days of evil report and ominous times, the Allies have held oh secure itheir financial arrangements. Courage and optimism, founded-on a self-reli-ant, policy, have carried them through. Their solvency, and ready ability to find money and more and more money as the circumstances demand the levy and sacrifice, has steered them clear of panic. Their money ha s talked always eloquently as it was necessary to appeal for loans, or to impose fresh taxation, to provide funds to carry on to a victorious conclusion. No so with the enemy eon ntr fes. The smaller countries on the enemy side have been in financial difficulties all along, just carrying on with doles from the arch-enemy country it has been difficult- to draw from at times. In Germany when disaster began to brood over the country, and the hopes for victory began to wane, a panic broke o ut on the Berlin Stock Exchange. How different, is. the temperament of the people in the United States when they set about providing the millions of the fourth Liberty Loan. The same kind of spirit is being displayed in Australia, now, though with less parade and junketing. In the Commonwealth the whole continent has been organised in advance, and each section of the great territory is being called upon'to provide its assigned quota of the great victory loan. 11l (treat Britain the same quiet enthusiasm has been displayed time after time in providing for every demand made by the Government in the appeal tor more loan monies. The sacrifice ill this disreetion lias been tremendous, and an example to the whole world. In Amei ica tilings are done on a great scale, and the.raising of the large Liberty loan has been featured in a very special way. The whole interest ol the nation has been centred on the task ot providing the money. The degree ol organisation must have been wonderful, and our own Minister of Finance passing through the United States at the time will have been able to glean, some idea s for his next appeal to provide funds to finish t.lieir part- in the war. The whole trend of the campaigns is now directed towards the final- victory and with this a certainty, folk will be more encouraged than ever to assist in providing money to push on more quickly still to the complete victory, now approaching so rapidly.