LIBERTY LOAN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1942, Page 2

LIBERTY LOAN

AMOUNT ASKED FOR EXCEEDED PRIME MINISTER GRATIFIED. CALL FOR UNRELAXED EFFORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. An announcement that the Second Liberty Loan of £lO,000,000 had been more than fully subscribed was made on Saturday night by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. He said the latest figures then available compiled from telegraphed returns showed that 24,000 applications totalling £10,300,000 bad been received and that there were more to come. Mr Fraser said he felt that some measure of this excellent response was due to the stimulating effect of the splendid news of the past week. No New Zealander could fail to be exhilarated by the deeds and prowess of the New Zealand Division in the sweeping victory in Egypt. ■‘This is really a splendid response, and is ample proof that the people of this country are determined to give full financial support to the country’s war effort,” said Mr Fraser. “To all individuals who contributed I offer my sincere thanks. I would like to stress that it is from the collective efforts of the individual citizen that the State derives its powers as well as its strength. The individual effort of the soldier, the sailor and the airman is essential to victory. It is the individual effort of men and women working in co-operation in the factories ,in the workshops, in the fields and in the mines that will produce the supplies for the soldier, the sailor and the airman; and it is the individual effort of the men and women who have contributed so generously through National Savings, through interest-free loans, and through this and the previous war loan that has provided the State with the money required to finance the cost of these essential supplies.” After expressing thanks not only to the individual contributors but also to those who had taken an active part in the loan campaign, Mr Fraser referred to the victory in Egypt and the part played by the New Zealand Division. “All New Zealand,” he said, “takes just pride in the fact that no country has a finer fighting force than ours. I can think of no more practical way of celebrating their victory than by contributing toward the cost of their arms and maintenance.

“The present is a time for redoubling of effort to enable the democratic forces to exploit the moment of success. While rejoicing in a great victory we must avoid exaggerated optimism. As Mr Churchill has said, ‘this is not the beginning of the end, it is only the end of the beginning.’ The new spirit of optimism and rejoicing today which is derived from the victories in Egypt, and the landings of United States and British Forces in North Africa should not blind any thinking citizens to the fact that our own shores are by no means free from danger. “No one can foresee the vicissitudes of war. A few weeks or even a few days may well bring about a lessening or an increase of the dangers confronting us. The United States Forces at Guadalcanal and in the South Pacific generally may at any moment be fighting for their lives, and for ours. “I appeal to eevry man and woman to continue to put every ounce of energy and every available resource into the common war effort, and ask all to continue to work with all their strength, to continue to lend through National Savings, to avoid all possible waste, and to strive in every way to emulate the sacrifices of those who sacrificed themselves to make the victory of the past few days so conclusive' and so glorious. “I appeal to every man and woman the spirit of sacrifice and hard work in the highest interests of the country, in the sure knowledge that such endeavours hasten the goal of final victory and, with it, the safeguarding of our own shores and our right to live our own lives here in our own democratic and freedom loving way, and in happiness, security, and peace, and in freedom from fear and want.” MASTERTON RETURN TOTAL OF £115,383 INVESTED. The Masterton Liberty Loan Committee received 51 applications for £6,730 on Saturday morning. The total number of applications was 360 for investment of £115,383. The committee considered that figure to be satisfactory. _