LOAN TO GOVERNMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1940, Page 4

LOAN TO GOVERNMENT

MONEY RAISED AT DIGGERS’ MARKET. WAIRARAPA R.SA. HANDS OVER £6OO. The following statement is handed to the Press by the honorary secretary of the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers’ Association ( Mr A. E. Prentice) for the information of the public. It will be remembered that in July, 1939, the Masterton members of the committee of the Wairarapa R.S.A. conducted a “Diggers’ Market,” to raise funds for the entertainment of a •large party of Australian ex-service men who were to visit the Dominion in connection with the Centennial celebrations, and to take part in the 25th Anniversary of Anzac Day, 1940. Owing to the intervention of the war this visit has been postponed indefinitely, and as the funds raised cannot at present be used for the purpose for which they were subscribed, the Masterton Committee has unanimously decided to lend the sum of £6OO to the Government for war purposes for the duration of the war. free of interest. A cheque for £6OO was deposited with the Bank of New Zealand yesterday, and the Minister of Finance has been advised accordingly. The Masterton Committee of the

R.S.A. is unanimous in its opinion that as the fund will not be called upon to serve its purpose until the war is over, no better use could be made of it than to offer it to the Government to assist in the prosecution of the war. This fund must not be confused with the Poppy Day funds which were subscribed for local relief of ex-service men, and will be used only for that purpose.