Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1935. CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 64, 27 December 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1935. CONDITIONS IN GERMANY.

Despite a serious shortage of food, Germany, it is stated, made a great parade of festivity for the great Christian Commemoration. The railway stations were decorated and displayed Christmas trees on all the platforms. On the reverse side of the shield, however, is the fact that the secret police have been instructed to carry on a ruthless campaign against food “saboteurs.” This campaign is aimed to prevent farmers who are discontented with the fixed milk prices from withholding supplies in order to make butter, which they sell privately at very high prices, defeating the elaborate marketing regulations introduced to distribute all available fats fairly, especially, to feed the cities. The particular shortage at Christmas is said to be probably due to the farmers’ resistance to compulsory marketing, but while their attitude may have intensified the shortage it was certainly not the actual cause, because the introduction of compulsion was an effort to increase the supplies, for long greatly below the needs of the nation. The situation in respect to foodstuffs is serious enough in itself, but the trials and hardships of the people are increased by the state of the public finances, which necessitate the Government making burdensome demands. It was reported the other day that, admitting that the public debt had risen by £583,000,000 since Herr Hitler came into power, the Finance Minister (Herr von Krosigk) maintained that the increase in incomes due to the active policy on which the money had been spent was sufficient to cover the deficit. The German people, he said, must be prepared to make every sacrifice for rearmament. The pleasures, even the vital necessities of life, must take second place. The building of new houses must be postponed. Rearmament made it impossible to balance the Budget, but there was no tendency to regret the policy, sai dthe Minister. A further element of sacrifice is added to the prospect by the Government’s demand for an increase in the birth rate, for this increase, whatever its eventual economic benefit, means an immediate strain on resources to feed and clothe and educate a larger number of dependants. The Minister’s confidence, if it be sincere, is ill-founded. Of what value ). any such reserve of wealth, supposing it to exist, if it cannot be tapped to moderate sacrifices of the • vita necessities of life? As an asset, he £583.000,000 is palpably fictitious, that amount represents a dead loss. The truth is that Germany s reso ve to rearm was a gamble, with the dice leaded against the possibility of paying for the proud luxury.