LIFE IN CENTRAL EUROPE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21245, 17 August 1934, Page 12

LIFE IN CENTRAL EUROPE

* Distrust and Fear i I CONDITIONS DESCRIBED j A terrible picture of conditions of life in Central Europe was painted in conversation with representative of "The Press" yesterday by Mr D. Roland, of Christchurch, who has just returned after a visit of two and a half years to the Continent, during which he visited Austria, Hungary, Rumania, Jugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and Germany. Fear and suspicion, he says, is rampant everywhere, not only among nations but also among individuals. In the last 35 years Mr Roland, whose home is in New Zealand, has travelled round the world 12 times, and he has spent many years of his life in Central Europe" He himself was born in Hungary and speaks five languages. "It is'worst of all in Vienna since the troubles there," he said. "If vou go into the average house you "mil find the owner in possession of as many as 20 keys which he uses regularly. Every room is kept locked as much as possible and en the front door there will probably be as many as three locks, a chain and spvhele. through which unexpected ' visitors can be examined. You dare not talk to anyone in ihe street whom you do not know veil; you dare not even talk to the pjner of your hotel or of the block of fiats in which you live. He may be a government spy, who, if he thinks you are against the government, will have you turned out of your home." Hich Living Costs j Liv-ng in Austria is extravagantly i expensive, according to Mr Roland, being at least three times as costly! a.: in' New Zealand. In the agrarian; 'countries such as Hungary, Jugo- ' slavia. Rumania and Bulgaria the Situation reversed. "These counI tries are drowning themselves m 11heir own fat." said Mr Roland, "beiums" they do not export their products. In Jugoslavia, for example, jyo- can buy 10 eggs for 2d. a big Murkoy for I s ? 6d, a goose for Is. j and two fat fowls for Is. j "This sounis very nice, but the jl-rel.'iem is to get the shillings." Mr Roland added/ "There is no trad among all these countries and no money is cum Kg in. In spite of such low price the people are j starving just as much as are the I inhabitants of the manufacturing j countries such as Czechoslovakia, 'where there is plenty of money but |:.o bod The situation of the great I-.-.ass of the peoj'>> of Central ' Europe is actually orse than it war during the war." ■ Extraordinary Taxation j I", desperation the governments I have resorted to extraordinary exiped'ents in the way of taxation. If j you Laci a room to let. said Mr I li'o'.ar-.!. and put a "an< i:i the I window to say so you had to have 'a stamp on the card costmg 2s tid. poster on t;,<> hoardings had if. ca try a as ir Sofia, the capital < f Bulgaria, it was a punishable oil once i<» niitT a match to a friend. Mdcne.. wen- a government monopoly, and could not be given awav If one pesr-ssed an automatic Imh'er it had to receive an oflicia' Mamp and pay a tax of as. "One t't the principal -■ources ot IrooLle in Central Europe. both politically and economically, is the jealousy in whwh Italy. Austria. Hungary. Czechoslovakia. and Germany ;re involved," said Mr itolar.d "If Austria want"l to join forces v. ith'hor natural •, n. the Germans. Italy and Czechoslovakia would p'otest. On tt\r other hand Germany is watchm:; with \ cry groat concern the political friendship that is grovim; up be|tv.ec:i Italy -.nd Hungary and Ausitna. AT this distrust and unceritainiy makes itself felt -n discri- ! minatory ta: it' barriers and quof.T: ~ri i* (■■oaio- a general unrest which is reJav'ed in the lives of the : no.-pie "Ar.vone v. no comes to Nov Zealand." Mr Iloland cor.cluded. ••wlien he sees the light oil CapeMaria vtiii Diem.en or Pcnearrow Head, should fall on his knees on the deck of his stun and thnni; heaven that he has the privilege of living he-re and :-ot in Euveipc."