Economic Recovery Fairly Speedy In Western Germany

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 89, 23 January 1950, Page 3

Economic Recovery Fairly Speedy In Western Germany

Interesting comments on conditions in Germany were made by MiSs Elsie Hitchcock, who a few years ago was a dental nurse in Paeroa, and has recently returned from Europe. Miss Hitchcock left New Zealand in August, 1947, and spent some time in Britain and was fortunate in securing a position as a helper at the last Olympic Games. Later she toured Switzerland, Austria and Italy and stayed nine months in Germany, spending most, of her time about a mile from the boundary of the Russian zone. Miss Hitchcock stated that in Western Germany economic recovery was taking place fairly quickly and during the period of her stay she noticed, considerable and continuous improvement. The alteration in the currency values had been followed by the restriction, to a marked degree, of the black market. The German people were good workers, said Miss Hitchcock, and it was a common -sight to see the women and whole families working in the fields. Referring to living conditions in Germany, Miss Hitchcock said that there was still much overcrowding, but in that respect conditions were, she understood, not nearly so bad as in the Russian zone.