ICELAND—THE WORLD’S "BIGGEST BUYER."

Dunstan Times, Issue 3464, 7 April 1930, Page 2

ICELAND—THE WORLD’S "BIGGEST BUYER."

No country in the world buys more, per head of population, in foreign countries than Iceland.

So people who think that Iceland is nothing more than a skating fink by nature, we leairn from the London Daily Telegraph, will be surprised to know that it is the best customer exporters have in other countries. What is more, says Howard Little, in this London newspaper, although Iceland is compelled to‘make relatively enormous purchases, the annual credit balance stands high, and shows a tendency to increase. Mr Little continues: “Iceland has modernised herself rapidly, in spite of difficulties natural and imposed. Neither iron, timber, building stone, cement, coal, nor salt are produced within her own borders. All these essentials must be brought oversea, and possibly hauled many miles into the interior over hard ground, where there is at present no road.

“in ISSO, when I hirst visited Iceland. the capital. Reykjavik, was a town of some 3,000 inhabitants, and boasted neither harbor nor roads. Nothing went on wheels. -To-day Reykjavik has a line harbor, the construction of which was actually commenced in 10]3. interrupted by the war, and, because of the necessity of continued enlargement, is in part not yet completed. The inhabitants of the town nmnber 26,000, and there are some 500 mntor vehicles, all of which are kept particularly busy. The main roads have a good surlace, and other roads Hitliin and leading from the capita! are also being improved.’' Iceland’s Parliament House, University and Museum, it is then related are in many important respects models el what these institutions should be. Indeed, the claim is made, and with some show of reason, we arc advised, ilmi Iceland’s Althing is, in reality, ’■be “.Mother of Parliaments,” The thousandth anniversary of the first meeting of the Althing will be celebrated next .lime, and this informant adds .

“Kitty-fmir years ago Iceland was ielt in a condition of poverty and ivitiiont business experience. ‘ Her people, by their own unaided efforts, have brought about many remarkable changes. Moreover, this has been done in spite of natural disadvantages, and in face ol something worse than mere indifference from the outside world— that world which the people of Iceland have actually led in the discovery ol new" lands and in the founding nf self-supporting colonies.”