88 THE GREAT WAR 



nation of incalculable value and at present 

 largely untouched. 



On June 9th, 1915, there appeared in "The 

 Times " an important letter signed " Banker " 

 which throws great light on the financial ques- 

 tion. After referring to the need for national 

 and personal economy and to the increased 

 earnings of the wage-earner, he urges the finan- 

 cial authorities of the country to encourage the 

 small investor. 



" The class," he says, " which is so greatly enriched 

 by the war is mainly the artisan and the better-paid 

 working class. It is indeed madness for them not to 

 save in this period of exceptional prosperity against the 

 certain day of shrinkage in the future. The State is in 

 need of their savings and will pay them a good interest. 

 Their money is safe. They are only called upon to 

 invest, in what is still the finest security in the world. 

 What is greatly needed then is to encourage and facili- 

 tate the investment of small savings in the War Loan. 

 It is good for the State and good for the investor. 1 

 To the last German War Loan the number of subscribers 

 was stated to be only just short of 2,000,000. It would 

 be surprising if subscribers at the present time (June 9th) 

 to our War Loan numbered 30,000. 



1 This has been done in a very satisfactory manner 

 under the Government Scheme announced by the Chan- 

 cellor of the Exchequer on the 21st June last. 



