ORIGINALITY IN SLOGANS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 155, 12 June 1942, Page 11

ORIGINALITY IN SLOGANS

HOUSANDS of listeners sent slogans for the Commercial Stations’ Liberty Loan Slogan competition, just concluded. A short, snappy slogan was asked for, together with five good reasons for investing in the Liberty Loan. The first prize is shared by R. J. Cox, of Westmere, Auckland ("The more you lend, the sooner the end") and Miss L. M. Ross, of Remuera, Auckland (" Liberty’s price is sacrifice"), who each receive £13 in Liberty Bonds. There were also 25 consolation prizes of £1 bonds. Determined to attract the judges’ attention, many listeners were not content to forward a simple slogan and five short reasons for supporting the loan, but wrote long letters, and sent photographs, sketches, maps, and all kinds of queer patriotic emblems, some of which are seen in the photograph above. One of the most novel entries was in the form — -_--

of a cut-out cardboard Maori figure which danced a haka and waved a Liberty Bond in the air when a string was pulled. "This is for Mr. Fraser, Prime Minister, N.Z., Maori war dance brings victory" was inscribed on the back. Another entry consisted of a cartoon of Winston Churchill singeing Hitler‘s moustache with the torch of liberty. The slogan attached was "Lest the Japs infest, invest." Several competitors sent anagrams. "Liberty in British Empire Reached Through You," was one; "Lending in Bonds Eradicates Ruthless Totalitarian Yoke" was another. A woman sent a photograph of her five children as five reasons for investing. Resorting to shock tactics, one competitor scrawled "Your money to-day or your throat tomorrow" in red ink, presumably to simulate blood.