SECOND WAR LOAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1748, 18 August 1917, Page 3

SECOND WAR LOAN.

THE NEED AND THE TERMS,

WHY SHOULD ONE SUBSCRIBE?

“EVERY LITTLE HELPS.”

Three years has the war lasted, and no one can say when it shall end. Innumerable experts —naval, military, financial, shipping, and social—“have seen their prophecies fail, their predictions falsified, their theories overturned. The happening of the unexpected has found the prophets at fault.

The Germans have made it quite clear that their real object is to crush Britain. If this is attained New Zealand will also be crushed. “If the war had gone against us,” said the Prime Minister a few days ago, “New Zealand would have be-

come a German colony.” What (hat Avould mean, following this Avar, is unthinkable.

War is a very costly business, and Britain is not lighting,- a, cheap Avar. Tins is the costliest conflict that any nation has ever entered into. But money is as essential -to success as men. To obtain it those in authority have three courses open to them: Taxation, loan, and enforced contribution. The combined first and second methods are to he preferred at all costs; hul the third, Ave have been plainly .warned, will he resorted to if necessary. Taxation (ouches the pocket of the present; so do loans, but Avith Joans part of the burden is reserved for posterity to carry. Already £11,000,000 has been raised in New Zealand by Avay of war Joan. Much of this is spent in the country; much of it is used to feed, clothe, and pay.the men Avho arc lighting for us. But the Avar is costing us nearly £2,000,000 a monthjiow, and the £11,000,000 referred to is ahont exhausted. Now (he Government asks for £21,000,000, and of that, it goes direct to (he people for £12,000,000, and it Avants it lIOAV. The Avar Ims cost this country in money alone £28,500,1)00, and may yet reach £50,000,000 — staggering figures for so’ young and small a country; more limn half Avhat the public debt Avas before the Avar (191-1), and, together Avith that, miming lo a possible public indebtedness of £l5O per head. True, the ini crest bill on these Avar loans Avill he enormous, hut the money Avill not all go out of the country. The Avar is the concern of every man, Avoman, and child in Noav Zea - land.

Thi' men who have gone and are going are doing (heir pari, in all conscience. Those who remain, especially the wealthy, must do theirs.

It was a sad confession that Sir •loseph Ward made when he said: “There are many persons of means and also companies who have subscribed very little, and in some cases nothing at all, to the last loan.” This second war loan affords opportunity for atonement.

Sued) people were not asked (o give, nor did the Government propose to lake their money. On the contrary, they were asked to LENT) it, and, considering the rate of interest and lli(> nature of the security, on umsl advantageous terms. They are again approached on business, if on no oilier und higher grounds, to lake pari in the second war loan. Business and financial men need no enlightenment upon the needs, (he terms, and conditions of the new loan: hut people of <|ni 1 c limited means may not he so well informed upon it. In the form of simple answers (o simple questions an attempt is here made to enlighten them: Does the Government really need my little savings? —Yes; every spare shilling. For how long does it want them? —if you invest in war eertilieales from 11 to £lO each, for live or ten rears, as you elect.

It will return yon in live years £1 on every .His you pul down. Do 1 put £1 or £5, or wind ever it may be, down? —Xo; yon pay His do.wu for every £L invested up to £500; you pay £8 now and in five years receive £lO. If you invest for ten veal’s you pul down 13s now for every £l, or £(i 10s for £.lO.

Supposing I take £IOO out and buy a war bond? —Then you will receive 5 per cent, interest, paid halfyearly—providing your income is of such amount that it is exempt from income tax.

Where can I gel I tie eertilieales, and more informal ion about them? —At any Money Order Office until Saturday, Ist September, for this kind of business. These bonds and certificates are most valuable? —As much as bant: notes.

Well, suppose they are stolen, or lost , or burned ? —The Government has made provision for safeguarding them. It will take care of them for vou free of charge.

But 1 want to provide for the ivifo and children. —Certainly; and you can do it in this way if yon havc / a fairly large amount; but.yon can pay down in the Post Olliee £3B for a £SO certificate and receive, or they can' receive, £SO hack in five Years’ time.

Supposing 1 1 can’t afford to tie my money up? —You need not. The stock, bonds, and certificates will always be of good value. You can oiler them as security. In England all you have to do is take your war certificates to the Post Office and sell them there. In Australia you ean sell them to the Government agaiu and receive back what you paid in, with simple interest at the rate of 3 per cent, per annum. You are getting in the Post Office Savings Bank to-day, if you have under

£3OO there; you receive 41 per cent, on the certificates. And supposing I cannot subscribe to the loan iioav?- —Well, facilities have been granted by employers to Avorkpeople to do this at Home, in Australia, and, to some extent, in Noav Zealand. Something like the time-payment system. The banks at Home meet the ease of large investors by advancing say £9OO on every £I,OOO of stock taken up, charging not less than 5 tier cent, interest. This enables a man to anticipate his probable savings. Similar arrangements haA’c been made by the Noav Zealand banks in connection Avith this second Avar loan. One Avould have to be economical to do that? —Precisely. That is a kind of by-product idea, but it is a sound one at the present time. Hoav can Avomen help in this?— The same as men, if they are single, and very much indeed if they are married by backing up .(heir husbands in taking up the loan according to their means. The money is wauled; not “for keeps,” but as a loan —a sate loan, a sound loan, a just loan, and, it is to bo hoped, a victorious loan. — Post.

HUMBLEST CAN HELP !

People of small means can help to Avin the war by investing in Post Office Bonds. Full particulars of this investment appear in the “Herald’' 10-day. The bonds pay interest half-yearly at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum from the 3rd September, 1917. Applications must be made on special forms, Avbieh may be obtained at any post office.