THE VICTORY WAR LOAN.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 September 1919, Page 4

THE VICTORY WAR LOAN.

The time for voluntary investment in

‘the Victory War Loan has been exltended to October 9th. In raising money to pay war debts the Press has .1 undeniably a great and important; duty ito perform. A business man must pay [his just debts, or he will be imprisoned, or have to seek protection of the ‘Bankruptcy Laws; he may have his goods seized and sold, and if that does lnot satisfy legal demands, one of the other cxtremeis follow. It must be [realised that State debts are not liquidated by magic; the only way is ’by paying -the money that is due. It is the duty of the Press to make plain rte all that State debts are precisely {similar to private individual debts, so ifar as the liability for payment goes, [and so long as there is money in the ;State the Government 11'-.is' no other icourse but to take that money, who- } over may have it in possession, till the last shilling is paid. The Minister of yFina.nce appeals to everyone to lend ;the last shilling they can spare-; the case has an aspect. of 'LleSperaJtion; there are many millions, in varying ‘ sums, lying in banks and other financial institutions; the‘ savings of the people are greater than ever before; non-essen. tial, if not illegal, buying and selling ‘is going on to an hitherto unprece(lemted level; money is being withheld iwhile the eountry’s urgent needs require it. Those people who find it all 1 they can do to live are not called upon }to sacrifice, but “The Empire Calls” las loudly, appealingly, importunately, as it “Called for -Men” during the years of actual rfiglnfifig. In the W3l‘ history of this splendid li-ttl ecountry ma_ny pages Will‘ be illuminated with t.he'”records and sacrifices of men who responded with their lives -to.tlle"Call of Empire; what will the pages ‘devoted to the men whose sacred duty it was to find the money show‘? Men are writing black"page‘s in this co‘untry’s history by not responding enthusiast.ically and liberally to tire Empire’s ur-gent. appeal .for_money. Will -men who have plenty, and who are offered equal to 6 per cent. for ‘the money they can well spare, fullyvrealise how their actions will figure in future history? Does any one oft-theni foolisllly think the historian will omit to record the glaring cases of lack of patriotism to the country that gave them opportunity to make -the money‘? The men who could uphold. the honour of %lZllovCoull'E-I')’ in the battle line have -acquitted themselves nobly, irreproacllably. W'ill those for whom they fought, and who stayed at home, acquit themselves less honourably? Shall it be said in hisfo.‘l‘y that our best maiihblodl we sacrificed freely, but our money we would not give, or even lend, at steinpt—ing interest‘? The honour of this country is left in «the hands of men who have money, will it be made safe and kept untarnished to be recorded in the annals of the State‘? Every shilling is wanted