Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

370 HISTORY OF THE BANKThe policy of the bank throughout the war was to extendthe faciKties of the institution gratuitously to all legitimatefunds and projects for the furtherance of the war or for therelief of the suffering caused by it, though some judgmentwas necessarily exercised as to their bona fides. As newconditions arose, new plans for relief were constantly to thefore. One of the last which marked the war period was theAgricultural Relief of the Allies Fund. In January, 1918, thebranches were authorized to receive subscriptions to this fund,the proceeds of which were to be used to provide seeds, machinery,etc., to assist farmers in the areas devastated by the warto make a fresh start. In April, at the request of the Ministerof Finance, it was agreed that branches in Manitoba, Saskatchewan,Alberta and British Columbia should negotiate withoutcharge warrants issued by the Soldier Settlement Board. Thesewarrants represented loans made to assist returned soldiers inpaying for and equipping farm lands purchased by them. Thebank was again officially designated by the Italian Treasury toreceive subscriptions to the Italian Fifth Consolidated five percent. War Loan of 1918, and the branches were accordinglygiven the necessary authority and asked to assist the loan inany way they could. Later in the year the French GovernmentLoan of Liberation received similar support. In additionthe Board of Pension Commissioners asked for and wasgranted the aid of the bank's managers in dealing with thebona fides of claims for pensions. Co-operation was also extendedto the campaign to raise funds for the Ontario Divisionof the Navy League of Canada during Sailors' Week, 1918,September 2 to September 7, and subscriptions were acceptedand remitted to Toronto free of charge. In the autumn theSecond Victory Loan campaign made its heavy demand uponthe time and services of the staff of the bank. These thingsare recorded here in order that the part played by theCanadian banks during the war and the public services theyso freely rendered may not be forgotten. These services inmost cases came to the attention of only a few of the