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Overview
This is a fund-raising poster designed and printed in World War II. It delivers an emotionally charged call for New Zealanders to give money to the war effort. Its intention is to remind civilians of their responsibilities during wartime. The message uses guilt and coercion: 'Yes! You! Who - Me? You are wanted in the 3rd Liberty Loan'.
Design
The language of this poster would have literally shouted out to passers-by, intending to make viewers consider their personal war effort. The image of an ordinary 'bloke' was directed at men over 46 years old who were not conscripted into the armed services. They were being reminded to conscript their money instead.
Loans
From 1941, the National War Savings Office raised substantial internal loans to pay for the war through voluntary public subscription. Many New Zealanders lent their money to the government, at modest interest rates. The government repaid the loans after the war.
Liberty Loans
Most of the loans were called Liberty Loans. This particular poster advertised the '3rd Liberty Loan' held in 1943.
Significance
Posters such as this made intense appeals to New Zealanders' sense of patriotism and sacrifice. Nearly half the country's war spending was covered by internal borrowing. New Zealand had no outstanding overseas debt as a result of the war.