Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

324 HISTORY OF THE BANKfeel called upon to volunteer," said the general manager.seeking to recall the state of the public mind in this countryin August, 1914, it must be remembered that no one thenimagined that the war would be one of attrition, whichwould demand constant additions to the ranks of the belligerents.Subsequently the views of the most conservativeCanadians were changed by the force of circumstances, and noclass in the community did more to encourage the fullestco-operation and concentration of purpose in the great task ofwinning the war than those in control of the great banks ofCanada.It has already been pointed out that even had there beenno war in Europe, conditions in certain parts of Canada wouldhave given rise to anxiety. Reports from the western branchesabout September 1 showed that some districts of southwesternSaskatchewan and southern Alberta were sufferingseverely from drought. Managers were advised that in districtswhere fodder was plentiful applications for assistance inpurchasing live stock would be considered on their merits, butthat it was desirable to limit this assistance principally tofarmers who were likely to be able to retire the advanceswithin a reasonable time. A few days later, on the representationof the Minister of Finance that rumours had reached himof the unwarranted restriction of farmers' credits in certaindistricts of the West, the branches were advised that nosituation existed or had existed in the past which would excuseany restriction of credit to deserving farmers hurtful to themor to the interests of the community at large. Indeed, in themovement to increase the production of food in Canada,which soon became necessary and which continued throughoutthe war, the banks proved to be an important assisting factor.Shortly before the war, the province of British Columbiahad authorized a loan for ten million dollars, three-quartersof which had been issued through The Canadian Bank ofCommerce in London. In September that province desiredto issue the balance of $2,500,000, and enquired whether itIn