The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1917. WAR MONEY URGENCY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 16 August 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1917. WAR MONEY URGENCY.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News).

By far the most costly undertaking that has ever troubled this old world, the nations have now in hand. The building of ancient cities, aqueducts, pyramids, and a rolling together of a hundred past wars would not involve anything like the money that the present war is costing. Yet if we would live, still more money and more men must be thrown into the balance. Our Minister of Finance has reminded us that the great arch enemy of nations and peoples is now at the zenith of his strength, and that he has now set his perfected plans in operation to secure a decision in his favour that would only give respite from bloody slaughter in his persistence in gaining domination of the whole civilised world. Nothing is more repugnant and horrifying to the thought of true British people than that of losing the great trust that has been handed down to them through past centuries by their fathers, who unsparingly sacrificed all that was essential in life and treasure that they might pass on to their posterity the freedom which they inherited. The first real struggle for decison is raging in France and Belgium; blood is ruthlessly being let run like water; and money is being poured in to the extent of millions a day that present day Britons may preserve the honour and hold-fast to the freedom that was bequeathed to then* in sacred trust to bo passed on to their sons The days and months before us arc too awful to contemplate and yet we have to send our men and our money —the two great essentials —or forfeit our freedom and the right to own cither property or money. There are still many in our land who, despite the findings of commissions composed of some of the most honourable men in the world, still cling, in their selfishness, to the hope that German methods with conquered people will not reach New Zealand, but the case quoted by Stipendiary Magistrate Poynton at Danncvirke speaks volumes in elucidating what German conquest would mean to our farmers. 'A Gerniian farmer at Dannevirke, with brutal German

frankness,, stated to New Zealanders, “If Britain wins the war, I shall be allowed to retain ray farm, but if tbe Germans win I shall have your farms as well” That indicates precisely what Germany is at war for; that her supermen may possess the earth and lord it over all peoples. Our Governments and leaders have had German intentions forced upon their notice in such a way and by such means that they know the vitals of the Empire must be strained to secure lasting victory in this struggle. New Zealand's help is essential in emerging honourably, our men are essential, and our money is essential. If there were not another word to impress upon us our, urgent duty to pour in every penny that can be spared, the terrible earnestness of our Minister of Finance, in asking us to subscribe to the War Loan that must be raised, is ample to satisfy us 1 of the supremely vital need of money. Sir Joseph Ward tells us with all the earnestness humanly possible, that the issue of the bitter conflict is still in the balance, and now that a final and supreme effort is required to turn the scale, he prays that we will not falter. Our. sons and brothers now in the bloody turmoil, as well as those that are to go, must be fed, clothed and liberally supplied with munitions. New Zealand has entered into a compact with the Motherland to send men, and to keep them clothed, fully equipped and supplied with munitions. This arrangement must be kept, for the Motherland cannot now help us with money. We must strain every effort to retain individual control of money, for we must not overlook the fact that the sacred rights of property must be subordinated to the sacred rights of life. We must not side-track the fact that money must be forthcoming to save us from servitude and slavery. We are anxious; the Press of the Empire is anxious, and our Minister of Finance is supremely anx/lous that the men amongst us who are making money should voluntarily show to our Allies, and our enemies that New Zealand has indeed found herself, and has resolved upon any sacrifice rather than that the tenure of her lands should be swept asde by any combination that arms itself against the free British Empire.

THE WAR LOAN PROSPECTUS

The War, Loan Prospectus published on page seven is verily shouting an appeal to this rich territory for money with which to win the war, and confidence is generally felt that the ravings of misguided people for the conscription of wealth is going to receive a very practical reply. The prospectus is of a much more liberal character than is thought to be either necessary or fair, but it must be remembered that such settlers as we have in our district, although markets which they do not control have made them comparatitively rich, are not to be classed with exploiters, with trusts and combines that are daily and hourly carrying on a system of robbery that should not be legalised. Most of our well to-do settlers came to the virgin bush and hewed out the homes and holdings they to-day own. It is jealousy, not justice, that classes these men as profiteers; they did not make the prices for either their stock or wool; they are merely subject to circumstances over which they had no control. Our settlers have hit upon one of those oases which are very infrequently met with in farming life, and they have taken their full, and are discreetly, prudently, and providently filling up their bags to tide the country over any desert it may chance to encounter in the immediate future. Since war commenced we must admit —everyone must admit —that they have been generous to an extreme, and now their attention is arrested by flaming headlines announcing that their country is in urgent need of monetary assistance. A fight for freedom to live and breathe is forced upon us by a ruthless enemy, and the country wants money to carry on the struggle. Recognising that whatever farmers have stored as the result of commendable industry, Government doe's not ask them to give the money, as the law entitles them to do, but asks them to lend it, and offers to pay handsomely for it. Six per cent, is the estimate of what 4| per cent, free of income tax means that is distinctly in favour of the man who is (asked to lend, and it is quite certain i that only in a little while, this “War j Loan Stock” will be quoted at a pre- ! mium. Directly the thunder of canI nons, now in operation by British gunners, sound’decisively, there will certainly be a growingly profitable market for New Zealand war bonds that are free of income tax. Money invested in War bonds is not locked up as is clearly demonstrated in the perfected scheme that is made for thefr inscription and ready transfer] In fact we are unable to find anything left undone by the Minister of Finance to safeguard the best interests of subscribers towards the twelve millions of money that are now urgently needed. Every sensible man knows that the money is absolutely

essential, and therefore be knows that if it not forthcoming voluntarily if must; 4 be obtained otherwise. The masses of the people have almost to profligacy contributed of their life and money is now requisite to keep the men equipped, clothed, and fed that they may achieve victory securing freedom for which they, with the rest of the world, outside the Central Powers controlled by Germans, are striving. The War Loan Prospectus, on another page, should be studied promptly, as in only about two weeks the twelve millions must be in sight. The urgency signifies vital importance.